COVID certificate: what it is and how it works
Given the rise in infections and incidence, the autonomous communities are beginning to take measures against the coronavirus. With the idea of avoiding restrictions, most are turning to the COVID passport, in which a QR code appears that says if the person has been vaccinated, has passed the disease or has a negative test. With this, the objective is to focus the demands on the unvaccinated and encourage them to do so.
The COVID passport is currently valid for 12 months when the user obtained it after being immunized against the coronavirus. Nevertheless, Brussels announced this week its intention that this title expire after nine months, if the recipient of the same has not received a booster dose of the vaccine - which will have to be received three months after completing the regimen for those who have been punctured with AstraZeneca or Janssen, or at six, for those who do it. have done with Moderna or Pfizer.
Being a COVID passport holder guarantees the possibility of traveling freely and even entering certain spaces. In Spain, regional governments are autonomous to demand it indoors, but provided that the courts give their approval for it. However, there are already several who are asking that this approval is not necessary to implement this measure.
By communities, Galicia, Aragon, Catalonia, Navarra, the Balearic Islands and Murcia already have the endorsement of their higher courts of Justice to impose the COVID passport in their territories and be able to access certain spaces. The first four have implemented it in hospitality or nightlife.
The Balearic Islands, in addition to nightlife venues, has added it to the conditions for accessing residences for the elderly, a place for which it will also be requested Catalonia, although there it will not be mandatory for any scenario at least until November 29, due to the collapse of the web when downloading it. Galicia has also extended it for pilgrim hostels or for visits to hospitals and the Region of Murcia for clients of premises that reach 100% capacity.
While these six communities have already approved the mandatory use of the COVID passport in certain situations, the Valencian Community, the Canary Islands and the Basque Country are awaiting the decision of the Justice and Andalusia and Castilla y León continue to study its application. The rest - La Rioja, Community of Madrid, Castilla-La Mancha, Asturias, Cantabria and Extremadura - do not consider imposing it for the moment.
The COVID certificate has been operating in Spain since July 1, but with the arrival of the third dose, doubts arise about what changes there are or whether, for example, it will be automatically updated or not with this reinforcement puncture. Also in those who have had the disease and have only received a puncture, the question arises as to whether they need both for countries where it is mandatory or if one is enough. Next we answer those and other keys about this passport.
It is a document that certifies that the person who owns it has been vaccinated against COVID-19, has recovered from it or has a negative test from the last 48 to 72 hours, as established in the place in question. This certificate contains the name and date of birth of the holder, the date of issue or information about the vaccine, diagnostic test or recovery, as well as a unique identifier - QR code -. Whoever has it can travel between EU countries or access certain areas where it is required. It is free and can be obtained both electronically and on paper.
The COVID certificate can be received by those who have been vaccinated in Spain - with one dose those who have had the disease or have been inoculated with Janssen and with two those who have not -, who have had COVID-19 and can document it with a positive PCR done at least 11 days before requesting it, or also people who have obtained a negative result in an antigen test, 48 hours in advance, or in a PCR, 72 hours.
The certificate is issued by the general authorities. In the case of Spain, it is usually the communities, although it can also be requested electronically through the website of the Ministry of Health.
The interested party does not have to be the one requesting the certificate; in fact, a third person can do it by proxy, guardianship or curatorship –the guardianship of disabled adults– provided that they provide the necessary documentation to prove their role and sign a responsible statement regarding its veracity and updating.
Although in Spain it is considered that with a single dose the complete regimen is obtained if COVID-19 has been passed, in other countries despite this they require having both doses and even a PCR or antigen test before traveling. In that case, you would have to get both punctures before going to the place in question.
When vaccinated with the booster dose, for the COVID passport to be valid including this new puncture, the owners of the same must download it again, as health sources have confirmed to elDiario.es. Once that process is completed, it will be back in effect.
