RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The “health pass”, a Covid vaccination pass, has been in force for weeks in Austria, Denmark, a few days ago in France and soon in New York, which reserves access to certain public places to vaccinated, cured or negative people, is gaining ground.
Hungary, Austria, and Denmark were among the first European countries to implement health pass systems in the northern spring.
In Denmark, a pass is mandatory for access to various places, such as hairdressers or gyms.
In March, Hungary quickly inoculated its population with Russian and Chinese vaccines, began issuing “immunity certificates” in March. These cards were used to reopen hotels, theaters, movie theaters, and restaurant interiors from May.
Since then, these restrictions have been lifted, but certificates are still required in healthcare facilities and for gatherings of more than 500 people.
Since the general reopening took place in Austria in mid-May, a negative test, antibody certificate, or vaccination test was required at hotels, restaurants, gyms, museums, concerts, hairdressers, and sporting events. This rule remains in force.
EUROPEAN TRAVEL CERTIFICATE
The health pass in European format, with a flash code that allows checking whether the carrier is vaccinated or has a recent negative test, came into force on July 1 in the European Union.
It allows travelers to cross the borders of 33 countries of the Old Continent: the 27 Member States of the European Union and six other neighboring countries (Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland). In any case, the rules vary according to destination and country of origin.
In Portugal, a health pass is required to stay in a hotel or group classes in gyms. It is also required for access to indoor restaurant lounges, but only on weekends and holidays.
In Ireland, the health pass is only required for access to indoor rooms in restaurants and pubs.
In France, the health pass became mandatory on July 21 to enter cultural and leisure establishments (museums, cinemas, theme parks, festivals, fairs) that host more than 50 people.
As of Monday, it is extended (for those over 18) to cafes, restaurants, airplanes, trains, buses for long trips and professional fairs. The pass also becomes mandatory for visitors or non-emergency patients in health facilities and nursing homes.
Italy is imposing a health pass as of August 6 to enter movie theaters, museums, and gyms, even to eat in the interior rooms of restaurants.
This “Green Pass” will be compulsory for passengers on domestic flights, long-distance trains, and ferries from September 1, as well as for teachers, school and university staff, and university students.
In Germany and Spain, the regions have the competence to establish such measures.
In Spain, Galicia (north) introduced a health pass for access to bars, restaurants, and discotheques in the most affected municipalities. Similar measures were blocked by the courts in the Canary Islands and Andalusia (south).
Depending on the Länder, a vaccination certificate or a negative test may be required for access to hotels, gyms, and cinemas in Germany.
Faced with the re-emergence of contaminations, Israel partially reinstated the health pass in early August: only people fully vaccinated, cured of covid-19, or with a negative PCR test may enter a place that hosts more than 100 people, indoors or outdoors.
Amid a surge in covid-19 cases in the United States, Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York, announced Tuesday that the health pass, called “Key to NYC,” will be launched on Aug. 16, followed by a one-month transition period.
This will consist of a vaccination test for “employees and patrons of indoor restaurants, sports arenas, and theaters.” New York City will thus be the first major U.S. metropolis to create a health pass.
The Prime Minister of the Canadian province, François Legault, announced on August 5 the imminent implementation of a vaccination passport. This document will provide access to “non-essential” activities such as “going to a restaurant”.
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