Premier, health officials set to release details of B.C.'s vaccine passport

Premier John Horgan is set to release details of British Columbia's incoming COVID-19 vaccine card system, which is to roll out next week.

Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry are expected to provide the details at a news conference later today.

The province had confirmed that a vaccine card system would begin Sept. 13, requiring proof of at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine in order to enter restaurants, movies, ticketed sporting events and many other non-essential venues.

As of Oct. 24, those aged 12 and up will need to be fully vaccinated to access those same services and venues.

The president of the Canadian Police Association says his group will be paying close attention to the province's plans for enforcement.

Tom Stamatakis has said Horgan is unrealistic to suggest police could respond every time a patron refuses to provide vaccination status because that would stretch police resources and potentially affect responses to other calls.

The latest data from the BC Centre for Disease Control shows the province has 671 new cases of COVID-19 and 5,872 active cases of the virus.