The Scottish government’s vaccine passport scheme has become enforceable by law from Monday morning.
Nightclubs and large events, like some football matches, will only be able to allow entry to people who can show they have had two doses of a Covid vaccine.
The scheme came into effect on the 1st of October after MSPs voted to back the proposals, businesses were given a 17-day “period of grace” to allow venues time to test out their procedures.
People who have had two vaccines in Scotland can download or get a paper copy of a certificate with a QR code, this has raised serious security and privacy issues for many.
Everyone over the age of 18 must now show – if asked – that they have had both doses of the vaccine before they are allowed entry to certain venues and events. These include:
- Nightclubs and “analogous venues”
- Adult entertainment venues
- Unseated indoor events with more than 500 people, even if some are seated
- Unseated outdoor events with more than 4,000 people
- Any event with more than 10,000 people in attendance
The new scheme requires venues to put in place a “reasonable system” to check the status of customers, with certain exemptions on medical grounds.
Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon said the hospitality industry as a whole would not be included in the scheme, however, has not ruled it out and said the decision would be kept under review.
Businesses say they have already experienced a “number of issues” with the scheme, such as customers being unaware they need a passport to gain entry.
Leon Thompson, UK Hospitality Scotland director, said public awareness had been a “missing piece of the jigsaw”.
He said: “Customers need to be ready, they need to play their part and they need to understand what they have. They will need to come with the right frame of mind and be ready to be patient if they encounter queues.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf told the programme hundreds of thousands of people were using the scheme.
He said: “Over 700,000 have downloaded the app and well over 750,000 have a paper copy – of course some people who have a paper copy will also have the app so that’s not necessarily unique users.
“It says to me there are a number of people who have awareness. Where we can up the communication around this we have intentions to do so – we already have over the last two weeks.”
Problems were also reported with the NHS Scotland Covid Status app after it was made available to download on Apple and Android devices on 30 September, the Scottish government now claims all issues have been gotten rid of.
Opinion:
The ‘slow creep of authoritarianism’ now feels more like a bullet train smashing through everything in its path with no remorse.
The Scottish ‘government’ have gone full authoritarian and are now willing to enforce in law medical apartheid, a tragic situation for those having to live with the consequences of their actions.
A very sad day for freedom in the United Kingdom, Westminster will likely be keeping a close eye and will no doubt be debating if they can pull off their own version of this.
Will the people of the UK stand together against this madness, or will the elites continue to go down this dark path inflicting mass damage on the population with no remorse?
Only time will tell.
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
[sibwp_form id=4]
