“Health pass” will be mandatory to enter bars, restaurants and other tourist establishments from next week

BEIRUT — The Tourism Ministry on Friday announced that it will be compulsory for patrons and staff to show they are either vaccinated or free of COVID-19 in order to enter tourist establishments, including bars and restaurants, from next week.

What we know:

    • The ministry’s announcement states that “tourist institutions, hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, amusement parks and seaside resorts” must comply with the new measures.

    • From next week, anyone over 16 years old must present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate or an IgG test document containing a QR code that proves a previous infection with the coronavirus or a quick antigen test in order to enter these establishments.

    • Staff at the establishments listed must either “be vaccinated or carry out a PCR test every 72 hours,” the ministry’s announcement states.

    • The tourism police will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the new measures, the ministry stated, adding that people should continue to wear masks in public and respect the coronavirus preventive measures already in place.

   • The ministry’s decision follows recommendations made earlier this week by the National Committee on COVID-19 to introduce a health pass system to govern entry to an array of establishments. The committee on Tuesday also recommended compulsory vaccination for all civil servants and people working in hospitals, clinics, dispensaries, retirement homes and orphanages, educational establishments and universities, banks, shopping centers and food shops.