The Governor on Monday signed legislation allowing indoor dining – if restaurants verify that people have a Covid SafeKey.

Rena Lalgie signed the amendments to the Public Health (Covid-19 Emergency Powers) (Phased Re-Opening) Regulations 2021.

David Burt, the Premier, said: “With the resumption of indoor dining hundreds of Bermudians who have been unable to work during the pandemic can now return to work or return to full-time work thanks to the implementation of SafeKey.

“The safe return to normal operations is an important first step to Bermuda’s economic recovery, as we continue to work to move beyond the pandemic.”

A government spokeswoman said that there was a growing interest in the SafeKey. She said there are 30,000 immunised people eligible to have one and 7,000 e-mails have been sent out to date.

Those who are fully immunised and are at least two weeks past their second shot can expect an e-mail from ʽBermuda Government” with the subject line, ʽGovernment of Bermuda Covid-19 Vaccine Certificate’.

Those who are not a fortnight past their second jab will not receive a SafeKey.

“If you wish to enjoy indoor dining please book a coronavirus test and your negative test result e-mail will also have a PDF containing your SafeKey and its expiry date,” the spokeswoman added.

Licensed restaurants need a portable electronic device such as a smartphone or tablet with a camera capable of scanning the QR code on the Covid SafeKey.

While internet access is not required to scan the code, establishments can also scan the QR code using the online service at verify.gov.bm/ or any compatible QR code scan system.

When a guest arrives at a restaurant, the restaurant will scan their SafeKey and check their photo ID matches the information on the SafeKey.

The verify.gov.bm/ website will display the guest’s initials, the month and day of their date of birth, and there will be a green tick if the SafeKey is valid.

Once a patron is inside the establishment, the same rules apply to indoor dining as they do to outdoor dining including no service at the bar and no more than six people to a table.

Each table must be six feet apart, patrons can only remove their masks when seated and masks must be worn if a guest leaves the table to go to the bathroom.

Restaurants that do not adhere to the rules may be subject to closure by the Minister of Health.

Patrons can print off their documentation once their Covid SafeKey has been issued via e-mail or they can carry their digital QR code on their portable electronic device. They us also have photo identification in order to dine inside.