BRUSSELS. EU countries approved on Friday easing entry rules for fully vaccinated EU citizens and people who have recovered with the EU's digital Covid certificate.
The countries' EU ambassadors (Coreper) made the preliminary decision, based on the Commission's proposal from 31 May.
The certificate will take effect on July 1.
In addition to information about vaccination and recovery from COVID-19, the certificate should also contain information about testing.
The purpose of the Covid certificate, previously called a vaccine passport, is to facilitate tourist travel within the EU.
In principle, people with a Covid certificate should not need to be quarantined or have to undergo further tests.
There is an emergency brake that EU countries can invoke if the spread of infection increases sharply.
People are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the last dose of vaccine. (Johnson & Johnson only has one dose.)
People who have recovered should be exempt from quarantine and testing 180 days after a positive PCR test.
Furthermore, PCR tests should be valid for 72 hours and rapid antigen tests for 48 hours.
Families should be treated as a unit. Children under the age of 6 should be exempt from testing. Minors should be exempt from quarantine if their parents are exempt.
Each EU country decides for itself whether the Covid certificate should be used for other purposes, such as access to restaurants or events.
Formal approval by EU countries is expected at a ministerial meeting next week.
Source: Nyhetsbyrån Direkt
