Which countries are adopting health passports due to covid-19

Hospitalizations for covid-19, a "self-inflicted wound" 0:44

(CNN Spanish) -

While the vaccination campaign against covid-19 advances, waiting to be able to contain the impact of the delta variant, more and more countries have implemented or are studying to implement health passports to accredit vaccination and allow more activities for the immunized.

The initiative has, however, generated rejection in some countries --among these United States--, where they are considered ineffective and invasive, and even the World Health Organization (WHO) has criticized it, citing the lack of evidence of that "people who have recovered from covid-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection."

Although the WHO is in favor and is working on an intelligent digital vaccination certificate to keep a global record, although they assure that it is different from a "passport" since it would not be a requirement to move.

• The mayor of Chacabuco explained how "the covid passport" works

Nor is it a new idea.

The debate over the possible implementation of vaccination passports is believed to have started in 1897, when the government of British India, controlled by the United Kingdom, was dealing with an outbreak of bubonic plague.

One of the measures taken at that time was to request that travelers demonstrate that they had been vaccinated against this disease, but the plan was not well received by the population, who interpreted it as a way for the colonial government to control and limit their movements.

Specifically, health passports, also known as "immunity passport", "covid passport" or "green pass", are documents issued by the authorities of a country that certify that the carrier has been vaccinated.

Depending on the country, they allow you to attend certain spaces or travel.

What countries and regions have implemented them?

Israel

Israel, one of the leading countries in vaccination against covid-19, was also one of the first to adopt in February a health passport - the "green pass" - to prove immunity and allow the vaccinated to access stadiums , theaters or swimming pools, ebtre other places.

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The measure was taken in part to encourage the population to receive the vaccine.

The "green pass", however, was short-lived: on June 1 the Israeli government did not extend it after it expired, claiming that low infection numbers no longer made it necessary.

In this way, it became the first country to implement it and the first to withdraw it.

However, Israel is preparing to restore the green pass of the vaccine from July 29, amid a resurgence of cases of covid-19 due to the delta variant.

European Union

On June 9, the European Parliament approved by a wide margin the Covid Digital Certificate for travel within the European Union.

It entered into force on July 1, although a progressive implementation period is expected until August 12.

The certificate shows that a person has been vaccinated against covid-19, tested negative for the virus or has recovered from the disease, and will allow free movement throughout all EU member states.

Also, each country will be able to decide if it functions as a "green pass" to enter restaurants and shows in closed spaces, among other forms of entertainment.

The certificate is issued to certify the vaccination with any vaccine.

But Member States will decide whether or not it will be necessary to have a vaccine approved in the EU to allow free movement.

In addition, some countries have decided to launch their own "green passes" in parallel.

Austria

Austria is requiring people to undergo an entrance test when trying to access "all places where large numbers of people congregate in a confined space".

These tests will be carried out when people try to enter restaurants and sports and leisure facilities, register in hotels, go to proximity services such as hairdressers and attend indoor and outdoor events.

As part of the so-called entry test, people will have to submit a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of previous vaccination or infection.

According to the Austrian authorities, "a vaccination certificate / vaccination card / vaccination passport in German or English can be used as proof of vaccination."

The EU digital certificate is also recognized as proof of vaccination.

Denmark

Denmark is another of the countries that has announced it will implement a "covid passport", amid a need to reopen part of its economy frozen by the pandemic and reopen the borders to foreign travelers who have already been inoculated.

Baptized "coronapas", it works in a similar way to the EU Digital Covid Certificate, and is required to eat indoors in restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as to enter cultural places such as museums, zoos, cinemas and amusement parks.

Those over the age of 18 need a valid coronapas to go to gyms and indoor sports facilities, according to the Coronapas website, a joint initiative of the Danish Ministry of Health, the Danish Health Authority, the Statens Serum Institut and other authorities.

Danish residents also have to show a valid crown crown to get a haircut, massage or similar treatment.

In addition, university students, employees and visitors to higher education centers are required to present a health passport until August 1, when this requirement will be abolished.

Slovenia

Slovenia has adopted a system of "proof of recovered vaccination" requirements for travelers, the tourism sector, the hotel sector and the events sector, according to the Slovenian Tourist Office.

The country is requiring people to show proof of complete vaccination, recovery, or recent negative covid-19 test - which can be in the form of a Covid Digital Certificate from the EU or from a third country - to enter the country, as well as to attend many places and events.

"Reclaimed vaccination requirements apply to all visitors using accommodation facilities, indoor catering services, attending indoor conferences and congresses, trade fairs or visiting nightclubs and casinos," according to the Slovenian Tourist Office.

The use of masks is still mandatory in most closed public spaces, but those who can demonstrate compliance with the requirement of recovered vaccination no longer have to wear masks in indoor hospitality establishments, hotels, casinos and at cultural events or sports.

Provided that the requirement of recovered vaccination is met, maximum capacity is allowed at sporting, cultural events and conferences.

The requirements do not apply to minors under 18 years of age accompanied by close family members (or, in the case of cultural and sporting events, to minors under 15 years of age).

France

France was one of the first countries in Europe to announce a designated health card that allows its holders to access various establishments.

Approved on Monday by the French National Assembly, the health card will certify the holder's complete vaccination status or a recent negative result of the covid-19 test.

To enter places such as bars, restaurants, cinemas and theaters, and outdoor spaces, the French will have to show the digital or paper version of the health card.

People who go to medical centers will also have to show their card to enter.

The introduction of the card has also started the compulsory vaccination of some workers in the country.

As of August 30, workers in centers subject to the mandate of the health pass will have to be vaccinated, and this measure will also apply to health workers as of October 15.

More than 160,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday to protest the new law, according to figures from the French Interior Ministry, with more protests expected next Saturday.

Greece

Greece has taken one of the strongest European positions when it comes to vaccination, making it mandatory for healthcare personnel.

During a television speech on July 13, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that only vaccinated Greeks will be able to access indoor shopping areas, such as restaurants, entertainment centers, bars, theaters and cinemas.

"The country will not be closed again because of the attitude of some," he said, adding that "it is not Greece that is in danger, but the unvaccinated Greeks."

People vaccinated in Greece can obtain their vaccination certificate from the government website only after they have been fully inoculated.

The certificate can only be used after 14 days from the date of vaccination, either in electronic or paper format.

To check the certificates, the government has launched an app, COVID FREE GR, which can also scan European Union digital certificates when citizens try to enter designated areas.

Ireland

Ireland has chosen to use the EU digital certificate mechanism to control the entry of people into closed public places.

As of Monday, people fully vaccinated in Ireland and those who have recovered from covid-19 in the last 6 months will be able to access closed bars and restaurants by showing the digital or paper copy of the EU digital certificate.

Vaccinated people can also show their Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) covid-19 vaccination card, which is a physical card, "or other proof of immunity at the entrance of the premises," according to a publication of the Irish government of the July 23th.

The new control process has allowed alcohol-only pubs with no outdoor seating to reopen after 15 months of closure.

Italy

On July 22, Italy announced its plans for the introduction of a mandatory green pass that will take effect from August 6.

The pass, which was announced by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Health Minister Roberto Speranza, is designed to prevent unvaccinated people from entering closed or crowded places.

The pass will be available in digital or paper certificate format and will show how many vaccines a person has received, if they have tested negative in a PCR test in the last 48 hours or if they have recently recovered from covid-19.

The pass will allow people who have received one dose to enter closed meeting places, such as restaurants and cinemas, and those who have two doses access to crowded meeting places.

But it has also generated resistance.

On Sunday there were demonstrations in the Piazza del Pópolo, in Rome.

"There are people who do not agree with the limitations of freedom in their social activity," Italian journalist Guido Gazzoli told CNN Radio, and this is due to "the cataract of information that collides with each other and causes total confusion."

Latvia

Latvia is using the EU Covid Digital Certificate to allow travelers to enter the country without being subject to additional restrictions.

Green certificates can also be used "as confirmation to receive a service or attend an institution or event," according to the Ministry of Health.

In the case of certain establishments and events, the country is allowing restrictions to be relaxed if it is verified that customers or event attendees have a health passport before being admitted. For example, indoor catering services can resume without masks or social distancing if all attendees meet the certificate requirements. Private events, which are currently limited to 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors, can go ahead without restrictions as long as all attendees are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19.

In industries that previously required employees to test negative once a week, such as schools and children's camps, fully vaccinated workers can use their Covid certificates to avoid having to take the test.

Lithuania

Lithuania is using the EU Covid Digital Certificate to allow travelers to enter the country without being subjected to additional restrictions.

The green pass, called "National Certificate" in Lithuania, is also being used to ease restrictions on public events and restrictions for visitors to medical centers and prisons, according to the Lithuanian government.

The National Certificate can be verified at certain events, and events for which all attendees have a valid digital certificate will not be restricted in terms of the number of spectators or participants.

Certificates can also be used to track those attending children's camps and other non-formal education activities, and the number of attendees will no longer be limited to activities where all participants have valid passes.

Lithuania will also allow people with valid national certificates to visit medical facilities and visit detainees, as long as they also meet any other established requirements to visit those facilities.

Luxembourg

Luxembourg started using digital "CovidCheck certificates" in June as part of the EU's Covid Digital Certificate system.

These appear as QR codes on users' phones, which restaurants, bars and other venues can scan with a government-approved app before allowing visitors to enter.

If visitors do not have a valid certificate, they can undergo a rapid on-site antigen test.

Restaurant, bar, gym, retail, and event operators can choose not to participate in the CovidCheck certificate program, but they must adhere to enforced sanitary measures.

A valid CovidCheck certificate will also allow travel to other EU countries and will exempt travelers from quarantine upon arrival in Luxembourg, with some exceptions for visitors coming from regions or countries where the pandemic is worsening or are seen affected by outbreaks of some variant covid-19, according to the Luxembourg government.

Netherlands

The Netherlands is using its CoronaCheck system - part of the EU Covid Digital Certificate - to ease travel restrictions for the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as to monitor the spread of the virus at some events and establishments.

Residents of the Netherlands can obtain a QR code showing that they are fully vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19, or have recently tested negative by downloading the CoronaCheck app or by printing a paper certificate from the CoronaCheck website at the government.

"If you want to attend an event or activity in the Netherlands, such as a festival, a bar, a nightclub, a cultural event or a sports activity, the owner of the venue or the organizer of the event can ask you for an entry pass for the coronavirus "according to the Government of the Netherlands.

"If you have traveled to the Netherlands without a DCC (EU Digital COVID Certificate) and want to attend an event in the Netherlands for which a coronavirus entry pass is required, get tested before the event," it says the Government of the Netherlands on its website.

"You can attend the event with a negative test result taken up to 40 hours before. Vaccination or recovery tests are not valid without the DCC."

Portugal

Portugal is using the EU digital certificate program not only to reduce travel restrictions, but also to add controls to certain hospitality venues.

Across the country, travelers are required to show an EU Digital Covid Certificate or proof of a negative Covid-19 test in order to check in at any local hotel or accommodation, according to the Portuguese tourist office.

In municipalities considered high or very high risk, an EU Covid Digital Certificate or proof of a negative test is required for eating indoors on Fridays after 7pm, on weekends and on holidays.

Japan

The Asian country will begin to issue vaccination passports from the end of July, according to the NHK public network.

The document will show the traveler's name, nationality, passport number and vaccination date.

There will also be digital versions.

South Korea

As of July 1, South Korea began to allow foreigners to enter without the need for quarantine, under the condition of demonstrating that they are vaccinated with both doses (if applicable) of the covid-19 vaccine.

The requirement is that the vaccine is approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), and travelers must still undergo a covid-19 test before traveling and after arriving in South Korea.

With information from Ana María Luengo-Romero, Melissa Velásquez, Loaiza Ana Parra, Laurent Kent and Niamh Kennedy.

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