COVID-19: Manitoba youth can use school ID for vaccination proof, province says

Parents concerned about the ID portion of proving their kids have been double-vaccinated against COVID-19 don’t have to worry.

In an email to Global News, the province says school identification can be used in place of official government ID to prove eligible kids have gotten both shots.

“A piece of school identification can be used in conjunction with the immunization card,” a provincial spokesperson confirmed.

“This is similar to what is used to verify eligibility for other services for youth, such as transit passes.”

3:36 Manitoba to require full-vaccination for restaurants, bars, movies, sporting events

New public health orders that took effect Friday limit certain businesses, events and activities to those who can show they’ve been fully vaccinated.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is now required to enter a range of venues and businesses, including restaurants, bars, bingo halls, gyms and movie theatres.

The province brought in a vaccine passport, or proof of immunization card, in early June and Manitobans are now being asked to show the card — or a digital version that includes a QR code — as well as a piece of ID to get into spaces where full vaccination is required.

Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, says the measure could help avoid another shutdown and encourage unvaccinated residents to get their shots.

0:33 Manitoba opens COVID-19 vaccine cards to those without health cards

The province has already reintroduced a mask mandate for indoor public spaces and, come Tuesday, is reducing outdoor gathering limits to a maximum 500 people from 1,500.

Food courts, museums and galleries will also require visitors to show immunization records as of Tuesday.

Manitoba reported 56 new COVID-19 cases on its website Friday. The number of deaths connected to the virus was unchanged at 1,192, according to the site.

As of Friday morning, 82.5 per cent of eligible Manitobans (anyone born before Dec. 31, 2009) have received at least one shot of vaccine, while 77.3 per cent have received two doses, according to the province’s website.

–With files from The Canadian Press

Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:

Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.

To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.

For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, visit our coronavirus page.