Covid Passport

WELCOME TO EDITION 807 of GRAPEVINE

The writing is getting clearer by the passing week.

In fact, the writing is fast becoming set in stone.

DENMARK

On 3 February 2021, Denmark announced it was developing a digital passport that will show whether the holder has been vaccinated against Covid.

“It will be the extra passport you will be able to have on your mobile phone that documents that you have been vaccinated … it will be ready for use in three, four months. We can be among the first in the world to have it,” Danish Finance Minister Morten Boedskov told a news conference earlier this month.

By the end of this week, Danes should be able to check their immunization status on a health website.

Denmark is currently under a lockdown, with non-essential retail closed, and bars and restaurants limited to takeaway. If immunised, citizens are expected to be able to visit restaurants, conferences, music festivals and sports events.

ESTONIA

Since 8 February 2021, Estonia has waived quarantine requirements for visitors who can prove they have been vaccinated.

One of the least populated countries in the European Union, Estonia (1.3 m population) will recognise nine different types of vaccines even though, currently, the EU has only approved Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

ISRAEL

The country with the fastest vaccination programme in the world – more than 49% of the 9 m population has received at least one dose – Israel will be introducing a Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate, popularly referred to as the “Green Passport”.

Their Ministry of Health said it would be given out to people who have received two doses of the vaccine.

Israel entered its third lockdown on 27 December 2020 after a resurgence of Covid.

However, so successful is its vaccination programme that yesterday, Sunday 21 February, shops, libraries and museums re-opened although social distancing and masks are still mandatory.

A number of other facilities such as gyms, hotels and synagogues, can only be patronised by Israelis who can show a “Green Passport”.

Wishing you A Very Good Week.