When will the Covid Digital certificate come into force in the European Union?
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(CNN Spanish) -
Since July 1, the European Union's digital covid certificate came into force, which seeks to facilitate circulation within the block.
With this, it is shown that a person was vaccinated against covid-19 (vaccination certificate), or has a negative test result (test certificate), or recovered from the disease (recovery certificate).
Here what you should know to obtain the digital covid certificate according to information from the European Commission.
Basic data
Where it is issued: It
can be issued and used in all EU Member States and also in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
Who can receive it: '
All EU citizens and their families, as well as non-EU nationals who are or are legally residing in Member States and who have the right to travel to other Member States, could receive such certificates of free of charge, ”says the European Commission.
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When will it be ready:
From July 1 you can start using it.
However, if a country in the bloc is not ready to issue the certificate, a "phase-in period of six weeks" is envisaged.
How much it costs:
It's free.
How long it will be in force:
The Regulation will apply for 12 months from July 1, 2021, according to the European Commission.
Do you have to be vaccinated to travel?
No. According to the European Commission, “being vaccinated will not be a precondition for travel.
All EU citizens have a fundamental right to free movement in the EU and this applies regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not. '
The EU digital covid certificate is not a travel document.
How to receive the certificate
As the European Commission explains, after applying the vaccine in an EU country, you will receive the digital covid certificate automatically or upon request.
This may be issued by the authorities of the Member States and by the health agency that administers the vaccines.
What happens if you were vaccinated in a country outside the EU:
If an EU citizen has been vaccinated in a country that does not belong to the block, they can request the digital covid certificate from the Member State of their nationality or residence, this will be it will issue "if there is reliable proof of vaccination and if the structure of the health system allows it."
The test and recovery certificates will work under the same principle as the vaccination certificate.
But keep in mind that the details for issuing the certificates are set by the Member States.
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Editor's Note: Covid-19 cases remain high around the world.
Health officials warn that travel increases the chances of contracting and spreading the virus.
Staying home is the best way to stop streaming.
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Lake San Mauricio is located in the Aigüestortes National Park, in the Catalan Pyrenees.
You can get there in 4x4 trucks or walking along beautiful trails next to the river.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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The Aigüestortes National Park, in the province of Lleida, is the only national park located in Catalonia.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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The impressive Lakes of Covadonga provide an almost dreamlike scene in which you walk through valleys and mountains surrounded by hundreds of cows.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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The Lakes of Covadonga are located in the Natural Park of the Picos de Europa in the autonomous community of Asturias.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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To have views over a sea of clouds, the Fuente Dé cable car, in Cantabria, leaves you at the Mirador del Cable, a balcony to glimpse the Picos de Europa, in northern Spain.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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If you are in Catalonia and you want to mix peaks of more than 3,000 meters with walks through valleys of crystalline rivers and waterfalls, you can go hiking through the Alto Pirineo Natural Park.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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The Pla de Boavi route offers a hike through a spectacular valley surrounded by the mountains of the Alto Pirineo Natural Park, in Catalonia.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Among great peaks and gorges, the Ruta del Cares is one of the busiest in the Cantabrian Mountains.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Known as the Divine Throat, the Ruta del Cares runs for about 21 kms back and forth between Asturias and León, in northern Spain.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Just 30 km from Barcelona, the Montserrat massif has impressive panoramic views of Catalonia.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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You can go up to Montserrat on foot, by train or by cable car and tour the areas of the monastery, visit the Virgin of Montserrat, known as La Moreneta, and breathe fresh air walking along different paths.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
What is the EU digital covid certificate and how does it work?
And what about foreigners who want to travel to the EU?
According to the European Commission website, on May 20, the Council adopted a recommendation that 'aims to ease current restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU taking into account the progress of vaccination campaigns and the evolution of the epidemiological situation around the world ”.
'When the Commission is satisfied that a non-EU country issues certificates in accordance with standards and systems, which are interoperable with the EU system, the Commission can take a decision on the basis of which such certificates would be accepted. certificates from non-EU countries under the same conditions as EU digital covid certificates, ”he says.
'In any case, the rules for accepting proof of vaccination would be the same as for EU nationals: vaccines that have received an EU-wide marketing authorization must be accepted, but Member States can decide to accept also vaccines approved by the WHO ", adds the European Commission.
Will it be digital or printed?
It will be available in digital or paper format, whichever is preferred.
The certificates "will contain a QR code with the necessary data as well as a digital signature to verify the authenticity, integrity and validity of the certificate."
The European Commission developed a common design template with Member States to facilitate the recognition of EU covid certificates issued on paper.
Which application is used:
The European Commission says that 'all Member States must provide digital solutions for the issuance of the EU digital covid certificate free of charge'.
“This includes: an application or portal to issue digital and paper certificates;
a solution for citizens to store them (wallet app, existing tracking app);
a scanning solution for verification (with a smartphone using an app, for example), ”he adds.
The European Commission offers 'open source reference software and applications for the issuance, storage and verification of certificates' but Member States can also develop their own applications or use existing ones.
What information does it include
According to the European Commission, the EU digital covid certificate "will only contain the necessary information" such as:
Name
Date of birth
Certificate issuer
Unique identifier of the certificate
For the vaccination certificate:
Type of vaccine and manufacturer
Number of doses received
Vaccination date
For the test certificate:
Type of test
Date and time of the test
Place
Outcome
For the recovery certificate:
Date of positive test result
Period of validity
What vaccines are accepted
The European Commission accepts vaccines authorized in the European Union:
AstraZeneca / Oxford
Pfizer / BioNTech
Modern
Johnson & Johnson
But each member state can agree to decide those authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO), which also include the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines against covid-19.
What if only one dose has been received:
'Certificates will be issued to anyone who has received a COVID-19 vaccine in an EU Member State, regardless of the number of doses.
The number of doses will be clearly indicated on the EU digital covid certificate to indicate whether the vaccination cycle has been completed, ”says the European Commission.
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What covid-19 tests are accepted
According to the European Commission, “to ensure the reliability of the test result, only the so-called NAAT tests (including RT-PCR tests) and rapid antigen tests that appear in the common list established on the basis of of Council Recommendation 2021 / C 24/01 '.
Antigen tests:
Each member country can decide whether to accept rapid antigen tests.
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After a year with the borders closed, Europe will allow the entry of vaccinated tourists.
If your plan is to travel through Spain, but you are still looking for ideas, here are some Catalan beach and mountain towns a few hours from Barcelona that you may want to visit.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Editor's Note: Covid-19 cases remain high around the world.
Health officials warn that travel increases the chances of contracting and spreading the virus.
Staying home is the best way to stop streaming.
Below you will find information if you are still planning to travel, last updated on May 21.
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Siurana: This town in the Priorat region, in the province of Tarragona, combines the history of its Romanesque church, panoramic views of the reservoir and spectacular hiking trails.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Estartit: Located on the Costa Brava, in l'Estartit you can do active tourism in the Medes Islands, a beautiful reserve that you can visit by boat and do water sports.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Rupit: In addition to its medieval streets, Rupit has privileged views of neighboring cliffs and the impressive Sallent waterfall, the largest in Catalonia.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Pals: Among its medieval arches and alleys, Pals keeps a set of historical heritage declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Sitges: Just 40 minutes from Barcelona, you can see its beautiful white fishing houses and sit and enjoy the views of the Mediterranean.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Tossa de Mar: On the shores of the Costa Brava, this Catalan town full of history is called "the blue paradise".
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Besalú: Cobbled streets, views of the river and, especially, its medieval bridge with several arches, make Besalú one of the most iconic places in the volcanic area of La Garrotxa.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
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Cadaqués: Every corner of Cadaqués has a special charm.
This fishing village is considered by many to be the pearl of the Costa Brava, as well as being the home of Salvador Dalí.
(Photo: Mariana Toro Nader)
What is the minimum validity of the certificates?
Test certificate:
'On May 31, the Commission proposed to update the Council Recommendation on the coordination of travel measures, which includes standard validity periods for tests: 72 hours for PCR tests and, when accepted by a Member State, 48 hours for rapid antigen tests, 'says the European body's website.
Recovery
certificate
:
The COVID-19 recovery certificate would have a maximum validity of 180 days.
Vaccination certificate:
There is no maximum validity foreseen for the vaccination certificate.
Can children get a digital covid certificate from the EU?
Yes. Both a vaccination certificate, given that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved the use of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine in children between 12 and 15 years of age, as a trial or recovery.
“On May 31, the Commission proposed that minors traveling with their parents should be exempted from quarantine when the parents do not need to undergo quarantine, for example due to vaccination.
Children under the age of 6 should also be exempted from travel-related tests, ”says the European Commission website.
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Will it be compatible with other international systems?
"The Commission is working to ensure that the certificates are compatible with non-EU country systems," the website says.
And it adds that: "Non-EU countries should be encouraged to recognize the EU digital covid certificate when they remove restrictions on non-essential travel."
Furthermore, the European Commission can make the decision to recognize certificates issued by other countries.
Covid-19