Sweden introduces corona passports

– This is a difficult message to give. We all want the pandemic to be over, said Sweden’s Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren initially at the press conference on Wednesday.

She went on to say that the government intends to introduce corona passports for indoor events with over 100 participants. The background for the measure is the risk of increased spread of infection.

– Sweden is not isolated from the outside world. Those who are unvaccinated run a greater risk of spreading the infection further. It is a tough message to give, we all want the pandemic to be over, says Hallengren.

Sweden, on the other hand, does not introduce a requirement for the use of the vaccination certificate at indoor events with fewer than 100 participants, but the proposal nevertheless provides a legal basis for being able to require a corona passport.

– Vaccination certificates must also be able to be used at smaller gatherings, Hallengren said.

– Being able to use vaccination certificates as an alternative is something the government has been preparing for a long time. Now that is the situation here, said Minister of Culture and Democracy Amanda Lind at the press conference.

Already this summer, the government and the Public Health Authority began to prepare for the introduction of a corona certificate in order to be able to introduce it quickly when needed. The proposal was sent for consultation in September.

Public events include sports events, theater performances, cinemas, concerts, markets and trade fairs. Demonstrations, religious meetings and lectures are also affected.

Restaurant visits, on the other hand, are not included, as long as there is no live music or dancing on the premises. Nor are shops, schools or public transport described as public gatherings.

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