Covid-19 passports could cause discrimination, exclusion - Health Dept

Covid-19 passports could cause discrimination, exclusion - Health Dept

The Health Department's deputy director-general has explained why South Africa has not been quick to be among countries issuing Covid passports.

People exercise at a park along the Yarra River in Melbourne on September 27, 2020 as an overnight curfew in Australia's second-biggest city will be lifted from September 28, almost two months after it was imposed to counter a surging COVID-19 coronavirus
AFP

Some nations have adopted this system to relax travel restrictions and allow access to some places.


People who can produce proof they've been vaccinated, have recently tested negative for coronavirus or have just recovered from the virus - can get into restaurants, bars, cinema and concerts with such a passport.


READ: KZN driving spike in Covid-19 infections nationally: Phaahla


However, in France, thousands have been taking to the streets recently against the passes.


At a briefing in Pretoria on Friday, our Health Department's Dr Nicholas Crisp said there were human rights concerns.


"Besides the possible infringements of civil rights, we have seen in parts of the world unfair discrimination and exclusion of people in societies because of their lack of access to vaccinations.


READ: KZN among top registered for Covid jabs between 18 - 35


"We have seen that there is uncertainty in the duration of the protection from a vaccine. 


"It means there's a pretty unfair distribution of vaccines and a pretty unfair way of excluding certain people just because they haven't been able to get the vaccine."

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