Switzerland will follow the example of other European countries and launch "EU COVID digital certificate" almost one month before the deadline for its implementation. The Swiss government has announced that, starting on June 7, it will start distributing documents aimed at facilitating travel to European countries for all vaccinated people and for people who test negative for a PCR test or for those who have recovered. following coronavirus infection.
To this end, the Swiss authorities are still working on the details to decide what restrictions may be lifted when the certificates start to be used. "The purpose of the certificate is clear: it should create freedom of movement, showing that the passport holder has been vaccinated, has recovered from the disease or has been tested. In particular, it will simplify travel in the Schengen area, "said Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer during a press conference in Bern, referring to the Schengen borderless area, which includes Switzerland.
The Swiss authorities have stated that the certificates will be issued in both printed and electronic format. According to Swiss officials, the scheme is compatible with EU rules. COVID-19 travel certificates from Switzerland are created to protect the privacy of their users. At the same time, there will be a digital application for checking and storing documents that will be available for free in Google and Apple app stores.
Switzerland shall implement the "EU COVID Digital Certificate" from 7 June, one month before the deadline set by the European Union.
Earlier this month, Swiss authorities unveiled plans for the COVID-19 digital vaccination passport system at the Federal Office for Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunications (FOITT), while announcing that it will be implemented soon. According to World Health Organization figures, almost 700.000 people have been infected with coronavirus in Switzerland, and more than 10.000 people have died since the beginning of the pandemic.
Although the country maintains some of the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the virus, Switzerland has joined the initiative of many European countries to facilitate international travel and help the tourism and aviation sector emerge from the financial crisis caused by the virus by launching the digital passport.
Despite the deadline for the implementation of the certificates, which was on 1 July, earlier this month, on 1 June, seven European countries started issuing travel certificates: Denmark, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Poland and Germany.