European Union approves COVID-19 certificates of Bahrain

TDT | Manama                                       

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The European Union yesterday announced accepting the COVID-19 certificates issued by Bahrain as equivalent to the EU Digital COVID-19 certificate. Meaning that Bahrain's COVID-19 certificates will be connected to the EU’s system, starting today.

In a press statement, the EU said it will accept Bahrain’s COVID certificates under the same conditions as the EU Digital COVID Certificate. Along with Bahrain, the European Union also accepted COVID-19 certificates issued by Ecuador, South Korea, Kosovo and Madagascar as equivalent to theirs.

EU Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders said: “With the start of the summer, people start thinking about holiday plans and I’m happy to announce that Bahrain, Ecuador, the Republic of Korea, Kosovo and Madagascar are joining our system, which now has 72 connected countries and territories.”

The Council of EU Ministers extended the EU Digital COVID Certificate by a year until the 30th of June 2023 this week. A person who has a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate should in principle not be subject to additional restrictions, such as tests or quarantine, regardless of their place of departure in the EU.

Persons without an EU Digital COVID Certificate should be allowed to travel based on a test carried out before or after arrival. In addition, they might be required to undergo quarantine/ self-isolation when they arrive from particularly affected (dark red) areas.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate contains a QR code with a digital signature to protect it against falsification. When the certificate is checked, the QR code is scanned and the signature verified.