CORONAVIRUS passports are now legally enforceable in the North of Ireland and hospitality venues that fail to comply could face fines of up to £10,000.
Customers must show either proof of vaccination, a negative test or recent recovery from Covid to enter licenced premises and entertainment venues.
Entrance checks were introduced without enforcement on November 29 but the two-week grace period has now ended.
Ministers voted for mandatory checks last month, despite DUP opposition.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Paul Givan, from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), said there was a lack of evidence the certification scheme would help curb Covid transmission.
However, other Stormont parties are supporting the scheme and the Department of Health said the measure was being introduced to “help limit the transmission of Covid-19 in higher risk settings”.
The rules will affect much of the hospitality sector including pubs, clubs and licenced restaurants, as well as many indoor entertainment venues, like cinemas and theatres.
It comes as 10 cases of the Omicron Covid-19 variant are detected in Northern Ireland.
Health Minister Robin Swann has urged Stormont opponents of Covid passports to spell out their alternatives telling them “simply shouting no whilst failing to come forward with any genuine alternatives is not a credible position”.
In a letter to Assembly members, he urged them to vote for the scheme and appealed for a “respectful” debate on the issue on Monday.
“Certification is certainly not a panacea and will need to be complemented by widespread adherence to public health advice,” he said.
“It does, however, offer another layer of protection to our citizens.”
He added there were “no easy answers or simple policy choices in the pandemic”.
“It does not serve the public interest to be ducking decisions or constantly criticising from the sidelines,” said the minister.
There are several ways in which customers can prove their Covid-19 status:
By downloading the CovidCertNI app on a smart phone, which shows proof of double vaccination
By showing a paper vaccination card along with photo ID, such as a driver’s licence
By showing proof of a negative lateral flow test (reported to the NHS within the past 48 hours) along with photo ID
By showing proof of a positive PCR test result within the last 30-180 days, along with photo ID.
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