The Fijian Government on 04 October will roll out the digital VAX-Check tool, which will be made available to all workplaces, tertiary institutions, houses of worship, hotels, restaurants, cafés, cinemas, gyms, pools and tattoo parlours allowing them to open at 70 percent capacity, but only to fully-vaccinated persons.
From Monday 20 September 2021, cinemas, gyms, tattoo parlours, salon/spa can apply for a Permit to Operate through the COVIDPass Portal. This can be accessed at https://www.covidpass.mcttt.gov.fj/pass/add
All workplaces, tertiary institutions, houses of worship, hotels, restaurants, cafés, cinemas, gyms, pools, tattoo parlours, salon/spa that do not have a careFIJI QR Code Check-In Account can register for a QR Code account through https://checkin.digitalfiji.gov.fj/ from Monday 20 September 2021.
From Monday 27 September 2021, the above entities can apply to the Ministry of Commerce Trade Tourism and Transport for an account to use the VAX-Check tool through the approved QR Code application.
Attorney – General and Minister for Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said “For entities such as the houses of worship that may need assistance to access the registration portals, they can visit the nearest Legal Aid offices.
All these entities must have a QR Code Account and must verify the vaccination status of its patrons using the VAX-Check tool.
COVID-Safe Protocols are applicable for all of the above entities and these protocols will be published on the Fijian Government website and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport (MCTTT) website from Monday 20 September 2021.
The AG stated that the VAX-Check tool will enable the approved entities to securely authenticate the vaccination status of their customers.
“If a digital record needs to be corrected, the tool has a function to real-time report the record to the Data Rectification Team,” he said.
As with all of the digitalFIJI initiatives, government follows a security and privacy by design principle and that has not changed with the VAX- Check tool.
As part of the registration process for the VAX-Check tool, these entities will be required to specify the details of the employees that will undertake the vaccination status verification process of their patrons and will have access to the VAX-Check tool.
The A-G has assured that the entities will only be able to use the VAX- Check tool to check patron details, with their consent.
If patrons do not give consent, these entities will not be in a position to provide the services.
“These designated employees will have unique login credentials. The authentication process will include a multi-factor authentication system, which will add to the security of the login credentials. This will assist in investigation procedures,” Sayed Kaiyum said.
“The VAX-Check tool will only be accessible to the designated officers of these entities during a specified period. For example, from 9am to 4pm, depending on the hours of operation.”
The A-G added that for the members of the public who intend to visit these entities when they do open and for a smooth verification process, all patrons are requested to ensure that they present their vaccine card and a valid photo ID.
“Once the Vaccine Passport is implemented by the end of this year, vaccinated citizens will no longer need to carry a valid photo ID or vaccine card to check their vaccination status,” the AG said.
The Vaccine Passport which the government will launch, is compliant with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union and the app will contain a person’s picture, vaccination and test details — all securely stored on a smartphone.
For Fijians who opt for a paper based certification, the government will also issue encrypted paper form of certificates of vaccination and test results with a person’s picture. This is to allow for ease of identification and verification.
SOURCE: FIJI GOVT/PACNEWS
