Toronto Zoo to keep proof-of-vaccination requirements in place
Posted March 1, 2022 12:47 pm.
Last Updated March 1, 2022 1:01 pm.
Ontario lifted its COVID-19 vaccine passport system and remaining capacity limits for indoor spaces on Tuesday, paving the way for businesses to choose to keep proof of vaccination as an option or not.
The Toronto Zoo says it’s keeping it in place, for the time being, primarily to protect staff and guests but also to ensure animals are safe.
On Monday, CityNews examined some restaurants and local movie theatres that announced their intention to continue enforcing vaccine certificates for patrons and indoor attendees. Other chains, such as Cineplex, said it would honour the provincial government’s decision and lift proof of vaccination.
The Toronto Zoo’s website says that as of March 1, vaccine receipts “with or without the QR code” along with identification will be required as proof of vaccination. Under the zoo’s vaccination policy, officials say it is mandatory for guests, members and all who enter the grounds.
Children under the age of 11 do not need to provide a vaccine certificate.
“While as of March 1, the Ontario Government is lifting its requirement for certain businesses under the Regulations to provide proof of vaccine, Your Toronto Zoo will continue with all of our current health and safety protocols, including proof of vaccination and masking,” the zoo said in a statement.
“… Your Zoo is working towards vaccinating our COVID-19 susceptible species. We believe that our vaccination efforts will provide a greater degree of protection and/or reduce risks of serious illness. Without a clear understanding of the ongoing risk to our animals, we will continue with our current practices, including requiring proof of vaccine, mandatory masking, and all other COVID-19 health and safety measures.”
The Toronto Zoo says it continues to vaccinate certain animal species and expects the process to be completed by April 30, 2022, “at which time we will review our practices moving forward.”
In early January, the zoo was forced to temporarily close due to the presence of Omicron and a surge in COVID-19 transmission.
Similar to other businesses in recent months, on August 20, 2021, the Toronto Zoo announced its implementation of a mandatory vaccination policy for staff and volunteers “to further protect our workplace, our guests, our COVID-19 susceptible animals, and our broader community.”
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It required that all staff and volunteers be vaccinated by October 30, 2021.
“As a science-based institution, we fully support the evidence that vaccination protects individuals from serious illness and COVID-19 spread,” the zoo says.
“It is also important to understand that some of our animals are susceptible to COVID-19 illness, including gorillas, orangutans, tigers and lions. We must do everything we can to protect our animals and, in particular, endangered species from developing illness due to COVID-19.”
The zoo notes that staff will continue checking the vaccination documents of guests upon entry. They say that proof of vaccination with the second dose taken at least 14 days ago is required.
The zoo will accept a digital vaccine receipt or a paper copy.
“The scientific evidence is clear that vaccines work to save lives,” the zoo says. “Ensuring high rates of vaccination remains one of the most important tools we can deploy to protect each other, our COVID-19 susceptible animals, and our community.”
Premier Doug Ford has said the proof-of-vaccination system was designed to be temporary, but he says mask mandates will stay in place a bit longer.
