Certificates of vaccination, past illness or negative test began to work in European countries.
In the European Union and the Schengen area, the system of European covid passports has been officially launched. The main purpose of their introduction is called facilitating travel in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. Such certificates have also been earned in Ukraine since July 1, but so far in test mode. Correspondent.net tells what the document gives to the Ukrainians.
Ukrainians can get a European passport
On July 1, the European Union officially launched a unified system of digital vaccination certificates or covid passports. Already on the first day, according to the European Commission, more than 200 million certificates were issued in the EU, whose total population is about 450 million people.
Such successes were achieved due to the fact that since the beginning of June a number of countries of the union began to introduce covid certificates in test mode. The European document contains three data options:
-
vaccination information
-
about negative PCR test
-
about the transferred disease
A separate certificate will be issued after each vaccination, test or recovery. A negative test certificate will be issued for PCR and antigen tests.
Covid passports in the EU are issued free of charge in electronic and paper form – they are available both in English and in the national language. Verification of the authenticity of the document is carried out by means of the barcode or QR code contained in it.
The head of the European Commission, the main body of the EU, Ursula von der Leyen previously stressed that the key goal of the initiative is to restore freedom of movement within the EU in a “credible way”. Thanks to the certificates, EU residents will not need to be tested or quarantined when traveling abroad.
Against this background, the EU countries are gradually softening restrictive measures. For example, France has abolished curfews and the mandatory wearing of face masks on the street. And since June 30, restrictions on visiting restaurants, cafes, cultural institutions and gyms have been lifted in the country.
On July 1, the EU Council also updated the list of countries from which it recommends allowing travel to the EU countries.
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Jordan, Canada, Qatar, Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Montenegro and Kosovo were added to this list. Prior to that, the list included 17 countries and territories, in particular Serbia, North Macedonia, Israel, Japan, the United States and others.
Ukraine is not on the list, however, the Ukrainian authorities decided to launch certificates in advance that meet EU standards. Back in May, Kiev said that the corresponding infrastructure already ready and agreed with Brussels.
The Ukrainian digital covid certificate also contains information about vaccination against COVID-19 or information about a past illness, or a negative PCR test for coronavirus. The certificate is digitally signed.
To become the owner of the certificate, you must meet one of the above conditions, download the Diya application to your smartphone, consent to the transfer of data and go through verification. After that, an electronic version of the certificate will appear on the smartphone, which can also be printed.
In Ukraine, there will be two types of covid passports – Ukrainian and international.
The “internal” certificate will contain a name, a photo and a unique number. It will come in handy during possible new waves of a pandemic in Ukraine, said the People’s Deputy, the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on the Health of the Nation Mikhail Radutsky.
The idea is that if there is a lockdown again, holders of digital certificates will be able to visit gyms, swimming pools or go to a concert. But the final rules have not yet been approved by the government.
The international certificate will contain the name, surname, date of birth, unique number, name of the country that issued the document, information on vaccinations (drug, number of doses, date of vaccination), results of PCR tests, as well as data on past illness.
You can check the validity of the certificate using a QR code with a digital signature.
However, Ukraine and the European Union have not yet officially recognized the compliance of such documents. Therefore, free entry to EU countries with a certificate is not yet guaranteed to Ukrainians. In addition, the European authorities do not recognize vaccination with all drugs.
Note that Ukrainian citizens who have a residence permit in the EU can receive covid certificates in the European Union on a general basis.
It is assumed that any Ukrainian who legally entered the EU can receive a covid certificate there. When crossing the border, proof of vaccination or home test must be provided.
What confirmation to recognize – each EU or Schengen state decides separately. And already on the territory of the European Union, you can ask for a European certificate. However, it was also left to the discretion of each EU state in Brussels to issue it and where it can be obtained.
News from Correspondent.net in Telegram. Subscribe to our channel https://t.me/korrespondentnet
– .
