Portugal will start this week the “testing phase” of the EU Covid-19 Digital Certificate, which will last through June. It is expected to be fully operational on the 1st of July.
The certificate will be free and serves to facilitate circulation between countries. It will be proof of vaccination, testing, or immunity to COVID-19.
According to Expresso Newspaper, there are already several countries connected to the certificate issuing network. Portugal is still outside. The national version of the tool has not yet reached a development stage that allows the first tests to be made.
The good news is that this certificate will facilitate circulation between countries in time for the summer holidays. If everything goes as planned, it will help boost the European and national economies.
According to the Expresso Newspaper, “the certificate will be generated using encrypted information from the Ministry of Health with the infrastructure of the Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (INCM)”.
This certificate with QR Code technology will be free. The Ministry of Health is responsible for leading the development of the tool that was approved during the Portuguese presidency of the EU.
You can request the QR Code at a health service. It will be possible to quickly check if the traveler is already vaccinated, has already been infected or had a Covid-19 test with a negative result.
Although it is not mandatory for anyone traveling in the EU, this certificate will be a kind of digital “passport” that can be presented when entering any country.
The authorities of any country can, through a device, attest to its legitimacy. This will prevent Member States from applying additional restrictions such as testing or quarantines. However, if any country decides that any of these measures are necessary, it can do so.
