Northern Ireland Covid pass: Certification becomes legally enforceable at pubs and restaurants

Covid passports have become legally enforceable in Northern Ireland from today.

The scheme requiring people to prove their Covid status to gain entry to a range of hospitality venues and larges attendance events kicked in from Monday.

It was introduced late last month , and has now become mandatory following a two-week grace period to allow businesses adjust to the new requirements.

Patrons wishing to access nightclubs, pubs, restaurants and other licensed premises will need to provide proof of either vaccination or a negative lateral flow test result to enter.

They can alternatively provide evidence of a previous Covid infection.

Some venues have been asking for photo ID or other proof of identification along with Covid passes, due to concern people may use someone else's pass to gain entry.

The same rules will apply for entry to large indoor and outdoor events, such as concerts and sporting events.

The regulations that give legal weight to the new system will be subject to a vote in the Stormont Assembly on Monday afternoon.

It is believed unlikely that the law changes will be voted down.

While the DUP opposed the scheme at the Stormont Executive last month, branding it a distraction that would have marginal effect in suppressing the transmission of Covid-19, the coalition's other four parties supported its introduction.

If the parties vote the same way in the Assembly, the regulations should pass with ease in a straight majority vote.

Under the regulations, businesses who repeatedly fail to administer the scheme could face fines of up to £10,000.

Ahead of the Assembly debate, Health Minister Robin Swann appealed to MLAs to back the scheme.

He said the emergence of the Omicron variant had strengthened the case for introducing the system.

In a letter sent to all MLAs, Mr Swann called for a "respectful debate" on the measures and said opponents should set out their preferred alternatives.

The Health Minister has called for as many boosters as possible to be administered before the end of this month, but has not yet stated whether Northern Ireland will be following Boris Johnson's jabs drive.

Large queues have been forming outside some walk-in centres from early morning Monday, as Northern Ireland's booster rollout extended to over-30s.

Some people have been waiting more than two hours at the Ulster Hospital's vaccination hub, with other clinics reporting similar waits.

People queuing for jabs at hubs faced similar lengthy waits over the weekend, UTV has learned.

Some people waited up to three hours to be vaccinated at a walk-in clinic at the Downshire Hospital in Downpatrick on Sunday.

A number ended up leaving before they could get the jab - hoping to be able to book an appointment online instead.

Northern Ireland's move to introduce Covid passes was followed by England, as Boris Johnson tightened regulations in response to the spread of the Omicron variant.

The Prime Minister invoked Plan B measures in a bid to curb its spread, widening face masking rules, working from home guidance, and Covid passes for nightclubs and other large venues from Wednesday.

On Sunday, he declared the booster campaign would be ramped up in a bid to get all over-18s their third shot by the end of the year.

The UK Covid threat status has been raised to alert level 4 in response to Omicron's spread.