About 20% of residents have secured their B.C. vaccine cards ahead of new restrictions going into effect next week, part of a bid to clamp down on the spread of COVID-19.
Health Minister Adrian Dix confirmed on Thursday that about 1.1 million vaccine cards have been distributed since they were made available two days earlier.
The vaccination certificates, which roll out September 13, will be needed if British Columbians wish to visit what the government describes as discretionary events and locations. This includes pubs, concerts, ticketed sports games, banquet halls and more.
West Coast residents can apply for the B.C. vaccine card by visiting http://gov.bc.ca/vaccinecard and entering their personal health number, date of birth and date of either their first or second COVID-19 vaccine dose.
Users can then save a screen grab of a QR code onto their smartphones to facilitate verification by businesses. Alternatively, users can print off a paper copy from the website.
If an individual does not have access to the internet, they can call 1-833-838-2323 to get a paper copy mailed to them.
Businesses will need to scan the vaccine card’s QR code using the BC Vaccine Card Verifier app before allowing patrons inside. Otherwise, workers can also look at the card and verify the user’s name and vaccination details along with government photo ID.
The app will only confirm a user’s vaccination status: fully vaccinated, partially vaccinated or no records found. No additional health info will be contained in the app or stored in the worker’s mobile device.
The government is urging businesses not to call police as the first resort in the event patrons choose not to show proof of vaccination.
Instead, the province is hoping individuals will be dissuaded by a fine of up to $575, which could be issued by cannabis inspectors, health inspectors, community safety units, gaming investigators and bylaw officers.
Some businesses across the province have already publicly stated they will not enforce the cards. The province, meanwhile, has said those businesses will face fines for violating public health orders.
“If people are making a disturbance, there is provisions for this to be enforced. If businesses are flaunting the rules and putting people at risk, then there’s implications for that as well,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Tuesday.
Here’s out the new initiative will work when it rolls out September 13:
Businesses/events that will require proof of vaccination
Restaurants (indoor/outdoor dining), pubs
Organized indoor events such as weddings, business conferences
Concerts, clubs, cinemas, casinos
Fitness centres, adult sports, indoor group exercise activities
Indoor ticketed sporting events like the BC Lions, Vancouver Whitecaps, Vancouver Canucks
Entering personal health number, date of birth and date of either the user’s first or second COVID-19 vaccine dose
Save digital version to mobile device or print off paper copy from website
If one does not have computer or internet access, call 1-833-838-2323 to get a paper copy mailed
What businesses need to know
Verify users’ vaccination status by downloading BC Card Vaccine Verifier (not yet available) and scanning QR code featured on users’ digital cards or paper copies
Verify vaccination status visually by looking at the card and checking the user’s name and vaccination details
Confirm that the user’s government-issued photo ID matches the name of B.C. vaccine card
TORONTO – Restaurant Brands International Inc. reported net income of US$357 million for its third quarter, down from US$364 million in the same quarter last year.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says its profit amounted to 79 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30 compared with 79 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
Revenue for the parent company of Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs, totalled US$2.29 billion, up from US$1.84 billion in the same quarter last year.
Consolidated comparable sales were up 0.3 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Restaurant Brands says it earned 93 cents US per diluted share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 90 cents US per diluted share a year earlier.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 95 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – Fortis Inc. reported a third-quarter profit of $420 million, up from $394 million in the same quarter last year.
The electric and gas utility says the profit amounted to 85 cents per share for the quarter ended Sept. 30, up from 81 cents per share a year earlier.
Fortis says the increase was driven by rate base growth across its utilities, and strong earnings in Arizona largely reflecting new customer rates at Tucson Electric Power.
Revenue in the quarter totalled $2.77 billion, up from $2.72 billion in the same quarter last year.
On an adjusted basis, Fortis says it earned 85 cents per share in its latest quarter, up from an adjusted profit of 84 cents per share in the third quarter of 2023.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 82 cents per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
TORONTO – Thomson Reuters reported its third-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago as its revenue rose eight per cent.
The company, which keeps its books in U.S. dollars, says it earned US$301 million or 67 cents US per diluted share for the quarter ended Sept. 30. The result compared with a profit of US$367 million or 80 cents US per diluted share in the same quarter a year earlier.
Revenue for the quarter totalled US$1.72 billion, up from US$1.59 billion a year earlier.
In its outlook, Thomson Reuters says it now expects organic revenue growth of 7.0 per cent for its full year, up from earlier expectations for growth of 6.5 per cent.
On an adjusted basis, Thomson Reuters says it earned 80 cents US per share in its latest quarter, down from an adjusted profit of 82 cents US per share in the same quarter last year.
The average analyst estimate had been for a profit of 76 cents US per share, according to LSEG Data & Analytics.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 5, 2024.
