The health certificate adopted by the countries of the European Union (EU) formally entered into force this Thursday in the hope of reviving travel and relaunching tourism, despite threats of a “brake” due to the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
The document – a QR code can be carried on a phone or printed – certifies that the carrier has been fully immunized with one of the EU-approved vaccines, tested negative in a recent test, or already has immunity for having overcome the infection.
This we know about this measure.
What countries are part of the program?
The intention is that the certificate allows travel through the 27 countries of the EU and four countries that were associated with the initiative (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, in addition to the principalities of Andorra and Monaco).
All EU countries are already interconnected to the system, with the exception of Ireland, which suffered a cyber attack on its health network but hopes to join the project on July 19.
The countries of the European Union (EU) have issued more than 200 million of the digital COVID certificate on the day of entry into force of that new document, the community executive reported on Thursday.
“A vast majority of Member States are already connected to the system and are ready to issue and verify the certificate,” EC President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, adding that the device helps ” Europeans to regain the freedom that they value and cherish so much. “
Six other countries have reported that the issuance of some certificates is not fully operational, which affects Spain (in relation to some regions), Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, Malta and Sweden, problems that should be resolved in the next few days or the next week, spokesman Johannes Bahrke said.
What vaccines are considered in the COVID certificate?
The countries of the bloc will be obliged to accept in their territory travelers who are already fully immunized with the vaccines authorized in the EU: those of Pfizer / BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca (two doses) and Johnson & Johnson (single dose).
Member States can also – but are not obliged – to admit people immunized with vaccines licensed in certain EU countries (such as Russia’s Sputnik V, used in Hungary), or with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (such as the china Sinopharm).
However, the version of AstraZeneca manufactured in India (CoviShield), widely used in Africa, is not recognized due to concerns about differences in the manufacturing process.
Although certificate holders are not supposed to undergo additional quarantine or examination, it is still possible for a Member State to introduce restrictions if the situation in the traveler’s country or region of origin deteriorates.
Community spokesman Christian Wigand said at the same press conference that on the one hand there is the regulation of the certificate that comes into force this Thursday and on the other the recommendations of Brussels on travel.
“The first says clearly … that member states should not impose restrictions on people who have a certificate, in particular those vaccinated,” the spokesman said.
However, he acknowledged that EU countries have the possibility to “react” to certain situations, for example to a new variant or an emergency, if there are many cases of covid-19 in a region.
“But in that case you have to notify the EC and the other member states,” Wigand added.
And the Delta variant?
The generalization of the Delta variant, originating in India and now predominant in the UK and spreading across the EU, could trigger a new “emergency brake” in the attempt to relaunch tourism.
The Delta variant of the coronavirus, especially contagious, will account for 90% of cases in the EU at the end of August, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control estimated last week.
The Delta variant has already led Germany to include Portugal, where this variant became predominant, to its list of countries at risk, and practically prohibits all arrivals from this country.
The dramatic rise in Delta-variant infections in the UK, which gives the country an infection rate more than four times that of the EU, raises deep concern on the continent.
What about countries outside the EU?
EU countries had adopted a recommendation to allow entry only to fully vaccinated travelers from outside the bloc, or people with urgent reasons to travel.
However, Portugal, Spain and Greece initially opted for a more flexible attitude in the hope of reviving their tourism sectors. Faced with the pressure of the Delta variant, the three countries announced additional demands on travelers from the United Kingdom.
Adult travelers who want to go to the Greek islands will have to present a vaccination certificate or a negative PCR test or an antigen test or prove that they have recently overcome the disease as of July 5, the Hellenic government announced on Thursday.
Young people between 12 and 17 years old will be able to travel with any test, including home tests, while those under 12 will not have to present any test to travel to the islands.
The government advised everyone over the age of 12 to take a quick home test before returning from the trip.
This Thursday, at the entry into force of the certificate, at Brussels airport there were endless lines, as passengers trying to register their departures were diverted to control tents, where there was a huge crowd. “Everything is blocked,” said an employee of the airline Brussels Airlines.
When a family with children claimed that they would miss their flight, the employee responded: “It is COVID-19, it is the procedure. If they miss their flight we will put them on another one.”
With information from AFP and EFE
