In the mid of this pandemic, travelers need to have the means to prove that they are safe. The Digital COVID certificate allows people to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, a recent negative test result, or past COVID-19 infection. The European Union (EU) is the first to launch these certificates effective 1st July 2021.
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The certificate will be available in a national language and English. It consists of a QR code displayed on a device (like a smartphone or a tablet) or printed, and a digital signature, verified via EU Gateway.
As Uganda and most African countries still struggle to vaccinate their citizens, EU is way ahead, as they used the COVID certificate to make it easier for people to travel safely through the EU by showing that they have been vaccinated, had a negative test result, or recovered from COVID-19.
The EU digital COVID certificate will have a speedy verification process and will help to prevent the use of fake certificates across the EU. It should be noted that it won’t ask as a travel document. It won’t be enough to travel, people will still need their passports, VISAs or another form of identification.
Tests recognized under the COVID certificate include Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) tests, such as RT-PCR tests and rapid antigen tests (RAT). Travelers are advised to always check the applicable rules, i.e. which test is accepted to waive free movement restrictions, at the points of transit and destination. Antibody testing is not recognised, though this may change after the system is launched.
The information contained on the EU digital COVID certificate will be limited to:
- name
- date of birth
- date of issuance
- vaccine/test/recovery information
- a unique identifier
This data remains on the certificate and is not stored or retained when the certificate gets verified through the QR code or with human checks.
Countries not in the EU, like the UK, have started rolling out their own systems.England has its own COVID-19 pass through the National Health Service (NHS), which can also show proof of vaccination, recent test result, or past infection. People in Scotland and Wales can get a paper version.
