iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Omicron variant is highly contagious and can even infect vaccinated/infected people, say experts
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Covid-19: EU sets 9-month validity of vaccinations for travel pass
The new rules will be binding on the 27 EU states from February 1, 2022.
Reuters
The European Commission on Tuesday adopted rules that will make the European Union Covid-19 certificate valid for travel nine months after the completion of the primary vaccination schedule, an EU official told Reuters.
The new rules will be binding on the 27 EU states from February 1, the official said. The rule can be blocked by a qualified majority of EU governments or a simple majority of European Parliament members, but officials have said there is sufficient support for it.
The rule replaces a non-binding recommendation the EU Commission put forward in November.
Once the rule is effective, EU states will be obliged to let fully vaccinated travellers with a valid pass access their territory. However, as an exception justified by a deteriorating situation, they could still impose further requirements, such as negative tests or quarantines, as long as they are proportionate.
Several EU states, including Italy, Portugal and Greece, are currently requiring fully vaccinated travellers from other EU countries to also show a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival, measures some see as damaging the credibility of the EU pass.
The new rules apply only for international travel.
Governments will be able to have a different duration of the Covid-19 pass for access to events or indoor activities within their territories.
After a booster shot, the validity of the Covid-19 pass will be extended further without a set limit, because at the moment there is not enough information about the duration of protection from boosters, the EU official said.
ALSO READ:
A primary vaccination schedule for Covid-19 is currently composed in the EU of two shots of vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech , AstraZeneca and Moderna, or a single jab of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
More news from coronavirus
Doctors explain how some people can come into contact with a positive case without getting the virus themselves
Globally, cases decreased by nine per cent between July 25 and 31, as compared to the previous week
Over 178.2 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far
Total active cases stand at 18,841
Total active cases stand at 18,647
US President remains 'fever free and in good spirits'
Over 177.7 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far