The group is concerned the COVID-19 vaccine passport represents a potential barrier to services that are essential to Quebec's homeless population.
Author of the article:
Article content
Quebec’s decision to introduce COVID-19 vaccine passports Sept. 1 has left a group that advocates for homeless people worried life will become even more difficult for those with no fixed address.
Advertisement
Article content
The Réseau Solidarité Itinérance du Québec (RSIQ) says that the access offered by the passport to certain non-essential services represents a potential barrier to services they say are essential to the homeless population.
RSIQ co-ordinator Boromir Vallée Dore said restaurants, cafés, shopping malls, gym changing rooms and libraries can offer people a place to eat, get warm, engage in personal hygiene or sleep.
The passport is available only to Quebecers who are fully vaccinated and can produce a vaccination certificate either in the form of a written document or the QR code on their smartphone.
The RSIQ says most homeless people do not have cellphones and have difficulty preserving written documents. The group notes that many homeless people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Advertisement
Article content
The lack of a passport could have a negative effect on the health and well-being of homeless people, the group argues. The group says there has been no indication that community organizations working with homeless people will be exempt from the passport requirement.
Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé has said that a complete list of sites accessible with a vaccine passport will be made public Aug. 23.
Businesses and organizations that will be covered by the passport plan will be able to use an app that will allow them to vet their clientele. Employees of these establishments will not be required to be vaccinated.
Dubé cited a fourth wave of infections, driven by the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, as justification for the passport, which would allow the province to deal with the health crisis while not shutting down businesses.
All our coronavirus-related news can be found at montrealgazette.com/tag/coronavirus.
Sign up for our email newsletter dedicated to local COVID-19 coverage at montrealgazette.com/coronavirusnews.
Help support our local journalism by subscribing to the Montreal Gazette here.
Vaccine passport could make life more difficult for homeless people: group - Montreal Gazette
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment