Ireland is on its way to vaccinate over a million citizens, but the news on an Irish “Green Card” for vaccinated citizens has been slow.

There have been talks about a “social passport” that would allow citizens to enjoy public facilities but news finally broke on May 1st, 2021 that Ireland will be adopting the EU COVID-19 certificate during its pilot stage.

Ireland has been on Level 5 lockdown since Christmas and has announced that certain sectors will be free to open in the first half of May. This would allow beauty salons to trade once more and select sporting teams can return to training.

What does it mean for Ireland to join the EU Green Pass system?

The European Union announced plans earlier in the year to launch a digital green certificate. This travel pass is ready to enter its pilot launch phase and a group of EU Member States, including Ireland, have come on board for the rollout.

The program might not be limited to countries in the Union, and non-members like Britain could soon be part of the program too.

The digital green certificate can be issued to all citizens and not only to those who have received their full vaccination. This means Irish citizens who have been tested or who have recovered from COVID-19 will also be able to show their status using the app.

For ease of use, and to ensure inclusivity, the certificate can be issued in print format and digital form. It is expected to ease travel among EU states for those holding the certificate.

Fourteen states have signed up for the launch phase of this highly anticipated system. The technical launch is expected on June 1 and should be ready for an actual start by the end of that month. The appropriate legislation concerning safety and security is still in the works.

Who else is on board besides Ireland?

By May 10, a group of 16 EU member countries will start testing the EU Green Pass system. This includes key European territories such as Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, and Spain.

The cost of such a system is one of the major drawbacks but the EU is providing €1,000,000 in technical funding to everyone participating in the program.

Those who have chosen to not take part in the pilot phase include Belgium and Norway. They will however be part of the larger technical launch in June. Even though Switzerland is not an EU member, they will also implement the digital green certificate.

Is Ireland launching a COVID Green Card?

Each country will still govern over its own COVID restrictions. Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Minister of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, has previously stated that an Ireland COVID Vaccine Certificate could act as a “social passport” of sorts, allowing vaccinated or tested citizens to re-enter the economy in phases.

A senior spokesperson of the European Commission said that “it will always be up to member states as to how it is integrated.”

National apps are still in the pipeline and the EU will supply “open source templates” that connect to the “EU gateway”. Thus, each nation will still be allowed to regulate movement within their borders at their discretion.

The prime minister of Ireland, Micheál Martin, has confirmed that there are special units in his department working on the technology and “policy aspects”.

“As Europe vaccinates in sync the travel situation opens up,” he explained. He added that the steady progress in Europe’s vaccination programs is a good sign and that the EU and the USA will “be well advanced at the end of the summer”.

Martin also said that “[they] cannot stay disconnected forever. Ireland is a globalized country. We have to assess all the risks as we move forward. Travel resuming towards the latter half of July is a possibility.”

People are still encouraged to minimize non-essential travel in the nearby future to try and prevent spikes in infections.

Ireland and EU Green Certificate security concerns

As expected, various factions are raising their concerns about personal safety and security when issuing, using, and verifying digital green certificates.

The European Commission has confirmed that the app is different than the track and trace apps that were implemented during the initial outbreak. The technical system behind the app is completely different and it will log other information.

The Commission wants to put concerned citizens’ minds at ease as they state that there are no privacy concerns with the certificate. It will only hold very basic identification information such as our name, date of birth, and the issuing state. This should make it no different than your normal identification documents.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) was quick to vocalize its cynicism about the proposed system. Liam Herrick, the executive director of ICCL, wrote to ministers and said: “ICCL believes that vaccine certificate systems at a national level would lead to a two-tier society, marginalizing those who cannot access, cannot medically receive or may simply object to receiving a vaccine.”

Mr. Herrick also expressed his concern when it comes to individual’s private information. Data protection laws are being brought into question and collecting people’s health data could become problematic.

The “eHealth network” is a network that includes all the member states and Norway and they are tasked with publishing guidelines and framework in this regard. The Irish government is working along with the rest of Europe to finalize the technical specifications of the proposed system.

Irish COVID numbers: May 2021

By the start of May, Ireland has administered close to 1,500,000 doses. Vaccines are administered in 2 doses so only around 15% of the population has been vaccinated.

Ireland is using vaccines approved by the EU and the largest portion of people have received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. They are also administering AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Jansen jabs.

Ireland is set to receive 14,000,000 vaccines during 2021, enough to vaccinate the whole nation.

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Bahrain’s digital COVID-19 vaccine passport has been officially available since mid-February 2021 and is one of the first coronavirus health certificates in the world to be implemented.

The initiative, which incorporated state-of-the-art technology to allow travel, can be considered a trial scheme for other countries that are planning to roll out similar COVID passes.

So, is the Bahrain COVID certificate a hit or miss?

How does the Bahraini COVID certificate work?

All the vaccines currently available in Bahrain require 2 doses and each dose is to be administered 21 days apart.

Once the second dose has been received, Bahrainis have to wait 14 days for antibodies to fully form and them to be considered fully vaccinated. Only after 2 weeks have passed can an individual receive their COVID vaccination certificate.

The health passport, along with a ‘green shield’, can be authenticated through a QR code that is linked to the country’s vaccination database. The Bahraini green shield allows citizens entrance to selected public spaces like cinemas and indoor dining.

BeAware, the mobile app linked to Bahrain’s COVID Pass

The Beware app has 4 color-coded shields to indicate citizens’ vaccination phase:

• Grey: Not vaccinated
• Red: First dose received
• Yellow: The second dose received
• Green: Fully vaccinated and 14 days have passed.

After the first version of the app was scrutinized for its security risks, the Bahrain COVID certificate now only contains basic personal information. This includes the individual’s name, birthdate, nationality, and the type of vaccine they received.

Bahrain, a pioneer country during the pandemic

Bahrain was one of the first countries to launch a digital vaccine monitoring system. The BeAware app was introduced during the onset of the pandemic and its initial purpose was for contact tracing.

When the country gave the green light for vaccinations, in November 2020, the app also facilitated vaccination bookings. The first phase saw that the vaccine was available to health care workers and later to all residents and citizens of Bahrain over the age of 18.

Bahrain became the first country to make vaccination appointments available via a mobile app, where Bahrainis can also choose between 4 vaccines when making their appointment: Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca, or Sputnik V.

BeAware App under fire

The BeAware app came under scrutiny at first as Amnesty International saw it as one of the most invasive track and trace apps around.

Claudio Guarnieri, Head of Amnesty International’s Security Lab said: “Bahrain, Kuwait, and Norway have run roughshod over people’s privacy, with highly invasive surveillance tools, which go far beyond what is justified in efforts to tackle COVID-19. Privacy must not be another casualty as governments rush to roll out apps.”

During Bahrain’s initial lockdown, the government launched a television program called “Are You at Home?”. This nationwide TV game show was aimed to encourage citizens to download the contact trace app as they would then be automatically entered into the show.

Once the show goes live, contestants are phoned on-air and prompted to prove they are complying with Bahrain’s lockdown rules. They stand the chance to win 1,000 Bahraini dinars (around US$2,600).

Privacy advocates expressed their concern. Most recently, individuals can choose to opt-out of being entered.

By August of 2020, nearly 1,000,000 people have downloaded the app as it offers state-of-the-art vaccination booking systems, while the green shield has soon become an essential part of Bahraini reality.

Another world first: Bahrain-Israeli treaty

In another world first, Bahrain and Israel have created a bilateral COVID passport agreement. This arrangement will allow vaccine passport holders from both nations to travel quarantine-free between the countries.

Ilan Fluss, Head of Israel’s Foreign Ministry Economic Division, said that although countries are all seeking test results, it is simply not enough. “This [agreement] is the most effective way to enable movement of people between countries.”

What distinguishes this agreement from other travel bubbles is that the QR codes from each country’s app will be recognized in the other. Israel will also issue citizens from Bahrain with their domestic Israeli Green Pass, which will allow them to enter public venues.

The Bahrain-Israel arrangement is expected to greatly promote tourism and strengthen economic ties between the two nations.

Vaccinated Bahrain citizens: Experience so far

Nationals of Bahrain experienced their most drastic increase in COVID-19 cases over July and October 2020, but since the introduction of their vaccine program, their daily new cases have gone up by double.

This contradictory statistic does not take away from the fact that they have however launched one of the most successful vaccination campaigns globally. Within weeks, they had the third-highest vaccination rate per capita globally.

Since March 2020, they have transformed the Sitra Mall into a massive vaccination center as most shops have been closed since the start of the pandemic.

They also launched a campaign where mobile vaccination units would provide inoculations to bed-bound and elderly citizens.

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There will “definitely” be a rollout of vaccine passports in the United Kingdom, said PM Boris Johnson at the beginning of April. However, British citizens are eager to know how and when this COVID certificate initiative will be deployed.

With almost half of Brits vaccinated with at least the first jab by the end of April and the EU preparing its own Green Pass, the UK might follow suit and launch a UK COVID Passport.

NHS app used as COVID vaccine passport

“In terms of vaccine certification, I can confirm we are working on an NHS application,” stated UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on April 28th during a Sky News interview.

There are still several details to be revealed by the British government. However, this UK COVID passport should allow traveling abroad during the summer holidays.

Shapps specifically mentioned Spain as a priority destination for British visitors, although “the Joint Biosecurity Centre will need to come up with their assessment and we can’t do that until a bit nearer the time.”

It is expected that by mid-May a full green list, containing the countries where Brits can travel using the NHS COVID pass, will be released. The selected nations will be part of a traffic light system similar to the one used by the European Union to determine the risk per nation.

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While several countries and regions across the globe are deploying COVID passports to allow international travel, Canada is on the fence regarding health passes.

“We continue monitoring evidence and we continue listening to public health experts to find out what measures are appropriate for those people who are vaccinated,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a press conference held on April 6th, 2021.

As the summer season approaches, there are multiple experts, media outlets, and citizens that are putting pressure on a possible Canadian government’s decision related to vaccine certificates.

Right conditions to have a COVID certificate in Canada

Canada has mixed results in its handling of the virus.

Provinces such as Ontario and Quebec have been responsible for matching the US in daily infections per a million citizens.

Meanwhile, the maritime provinces have not had more than 4,000 cases since the beginning of the outbreak.

As such, a Canada COVID passport seems like a very likely option for the country.

Ethical approach on a Canadian health pass

“Equity and fairness are important ethical concerns regarding the use of vaccination certificates,” stated a report issued by the Chief Science Advisor of Canada.

According to the entity, a Canadian COVID passport “could create a ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ dynamic between those who are vaccinated and those who are not, and lead to tensions among communities.”

Just as its partners in the European Union, Canada would have to address the COVID passport’s data protection implications to learn how the health details provided by Canadian citizens will be preserved.

Travel health certificates to enter Canada

While the Canadian government is assessing the feasibility of implementing a COVID pass, over the past months the country has been requesting inbound visitors a travel health certificate.

As of February 2021, immigration authorities ask foreign travelers to complete a health declaration form, which helps them gather and track information regarding possible new COVID-19 cases in Canada.

Currently, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends avoiding non-essential travel, but in cases where entering the country is necessary, it is best to use the mobile app ArriveCAN, which provides “mandatory travel information on and after” passenger’s entry into Canadian territory.

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Italy is rehearsing for a promising summer of travel. While the Italy COVID pass isn’t Europe’s Digital Green Certificate, it’s certainly a way to move forward.

The Italian initiative, however, is also called the “Green Pass,” and represents the first step towards fewer restrictions and more freedom of movement for Italian citizens.

So far, the Green Pass for Italians does not apply to foreigners. But, depending on the results, this might soon change.

Italy COVID passport: How it works

This green pass certificate applies in 2 specific cases: first, for tourism purposes and/or for people who want to meet friends or family. Second, for Italians who need to move around Italy’s orange and red regions, which are the ones with the highest contagion rates in the country.

In fact, movement between yellow regions -the ones with promising stats and numbers- is not currently restricted.

Available as of April 26th, 2021, this coronavirus pass can be a hopeful tool to restart business as usual in Italy, one of the first and hardest-hit countries by the coronavirus outbreak.

Who can apply for the Italy Green Pass?

Much like the proposed US vaccine passport, Italians have to meet one of the following criteria to qualify for the Italy COVID passport:

• Italian residents who have been vaccinated with the complete treatment
• Citizens of Italy who have recovered from the COVID-19 disease
• Italians who can show proof of a negative test recently taken.

How to receive the Italy COVID pass

At first, the certificate will only be available in paper form. Later on, an online and downloadable version will also be available.

Citizens of Italy who have been vaccinated can ask for it at the local healthcare center, while Italians who have recovered can ask for the COVID pass to their physician.

However, the “green pass” has an expiration date. In fact, for vaccinated and recovered people, the Italy COVID certificate will be valid for 6 months, while the certificate only lasts 48 hours for citizens with a negative test.

Green Pass: “Important tool, but not a free all”

The Italian COVID certificate is “an important tool but not a free all”. That’s what the doctor and president of the country’s National Institute of Health Silvio Brusaferro said. In fact, the critics believe the Italian COVID travel certificate is discriminatory.

Plus, there are privacy concerns. In fact, the current Green Pass proposal doesn’t tackle the data protection issues. The Italian Guarantor worries that the essential information will be visible to everyone or only stored in a safe database.

Furthermore, some part of the Italian society believes this tool would divide citizens, creating friction between Italians who are free to move and those who will be stuck at home. Especially since the country is behind in its vaccination campaign, while only 5 million people had received the full jab treatment by April 2021.

COVID-free destinations in Italy

The Italy Covid pass can be one more way to create safe and virus-free destinations in the country. The proposal of Tourism Minister Garavaglia includes COVID-free islands, such as Capri and the Eolie archipelago.

For example, the Elba island in Tuscany has a population of 25,000 people, and over 6,000 of them have already been vaccinated. The island of Capri in Campania has the same goal: vaccinate everyone before summer begins.

Thanks to this effort, these Italian destinations can become safe and secure havens, and might soon be part of some travel bubbles established by several countries.

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An India COVID Passport is now part of the country’s second phase of vaccine distribution, which launched in April 2021. India has implemented the world’s largest vaccination campaign and rollout started in the first weeks of 2021.

Being only one of two countries in the world with a population of over 1 billion people, India has a mammoth task ahead. COVID passes for Indian citizens will streamline the process and allow citizens to contribute to their USD 5 trillion economy once more.

Vaccine certificate for Indians: How does it operate

After receiving their first dose, vaccinated citizens of India have to download the app to receive their vaccine certificate. This will be vital when returning to the vaccination center for a second dose.

This process has also been made simple to illuminate any confusion. Once Indians have been given a dose, they will be sent a notification to their mobile number with a link to follow.

The beneficiary must then follow the link and re-enter their cellphone number to confirm their identity. Once verified, the Indian COVID certificate will be ready to download.

This certificate will allow you to receive the second dose. After the completion of your vaccination course, you will follow the same procedure to download the full certificate.

Recipients will be notified about their second vaccination appointment on the cell phone number you have provided.

The complete Indian vaccine certificate will include details such as date of birth, identification number, photo ID, vaccine name, vaccine center name, and date of vaccination.

The Aarogya Setu App will also allow access to the certificate as it links directly to the CoWIN app.

CoWIN App, a mobile solution in the middle of India’s tech gap

The lack of digital infrastructure in India’s rural areas has created a new hurdle in the vaccine program. Vaccine centers have to reserve 60% of their supply for people who walk in without prior registration.

The CoWIN App is used by Indian citizens who have access to a smartphone to schedule vaccinations and make available their vaccination history. Registration is simple and those who wish to register can follow these steps:

1. Download the app from the app store or visit the website (cowin.gov.in)
2. Use their cellphone number and AADHAAR number to register.
3. After successfully registering, they will be able to see vaccination centers in their area.

The mobile app offers information about the vaccinated patients just like Japan’s COVID passport and other similar global initiatives such as the IATA Travel Pass.

Why an Indian COVID certificate is deemed essential for its citizens

Many citizens of India have been concerned about discrimination that could be associated with a vaccine certificate. However, in turn, such a COVID pass could potentially allow bearers to certain privileges and more freedom of movement.

For instance, the state of Kerala, where the first case of COVID-19 in India was recorded, has issued a ruling that allows vaccine certificate holders to enter markets and malls.

However, the Chairman of the Indian Railway Board, Suneet Sharma, has confirmed that passengers traveling by rail do not need a full vaccination certificate. This, amidst the cancelation of multiple trains by Western Railway.

Delhi has been placed under lockdown and many other states are set to follow suit. This has caused massive shifts in railway operations as migrant workers need to travel to their hometowns and commuter train operations are halted.

Having a COVID certificate in India can benefit both workers, local business owners, and travelers who are part of India’s air bubbles, where the country holds the largest scheme of this type on a global scale.

Vaccine crisis in India: More jabs, more investment, and more cases

Serum Institute of India is the world’s largest vaccine producer and supplies the world with nearly 60% of its vaccines annually. But now it is struggling to keep up with the demands of its own country.

Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s finance minister, has announced a USD 400 million government funding injection into the Serum Institute. Furthermore, they will aid Bharat Biotech with an additional USD 200 million to ensure enough supplies.

This new wave has prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce that anyone over the age of 18 will be eligible for the vaccine as of May 1st, 2021. The current shortage of vaccines and the spike in cases will put unprecedented pressure on the system as more than 1 billion Indians are now in line to get inoculated.

The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) has now allowed the Russian Direct Investment Fund to supply their Sputnik V vaccine to the country. This will be the third official vaccine available to citizens along with Oxford-AstraZeneca‘s Covishield and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. They are set to supply 850,000 vaccines by June.

India’s vaccine numbers: April 2021

Phase 2 of India’s vaccination program aims to target those 60 and above as well as citizens over 45 with severe illnesses. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare states that over 13 million Indian nationals have received their doses by April 23rd, 2021.

In contrast to those numbers, the country is seeing its biggest spike in infections to date. The last week in April sees cases increase by more than 300,000 per day to bring their total active cases to almost 2,500,000.

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US COVID passport scams, it seems, are everywhere, even though New York remains the only American state to issue so-called “vaccine passports” — digital badges to confirm that a person has received the full recommended doses to protect from the coronavirus.

Unsurprisingly, scams related to travel health certificates are particularly rampant across the Internet — on leading websites such as eBay and Shopify, in the online underground called dark web, and across social media.

Online fraud related to COVID passports, a reality in the US

“The darknet is booming with activity related to the vaccines,” Ekram Ahmed, a spokesperson for Check Point, a cybersecurity firm that monitors online risks, told ABC7 News. “Cybercriminals are looking to capitalize on the public’s interest to both get the vaccine or avoid the vaccine.”

To be sure, even though the Biden administration is planning a US COVID passport, it is unlikely to mandate its use. Neither is any of the states. Even New York’s Excelsior Pass is not compulsory.

Most states are undecided on creating or issuing such a document, and so are workplaces, as they explore ways to balance individual rights with health concerns of others, and consider potential legal issues too.

It is not clear if such a stamp of approval is required to, say, board a flight or join a cruise, or attend some conferences and events, or even visit tourist spots.

Some states like Hawaii, require tourists to show a negative COVID-19 test result but do not mandate a vaccine passport, even though several countries plan one.

Why are Americans buying health passports anyway?

Evidently, some US citizens are in a hurry to catch up with life as it existed before the coronavirus pandemic, even before they take the vaccine.

This means restarting international travel, having freedom of movement within the United States, participating in social and public gatherings, and being able to simply buy keys to a normal life.

Regardless, “we’ve seen hundreds of websites on the dark web where these documents are being sold… at the price of peanuts,” Beenu Arora, founder of cyber intelligence firm Cyble, told Reuters recently.

What’s on the US market: Types of COVID pass scams to avoid online

According to Check Point, the number of false advertisements pushing COVID pass fraud in the US has more than tripled since January. Many bogus US COVID passports are modestly priced, perhaps deliberately, to ensure they are within the reach of nearly all Americans.

One listing on eBay offers an “Authentic CDC Vaccination Record Card” for $10.99, even though the Centers for Disease Control referenced in it issues no such document, according to The Washington Post.

Many more are available for even lower prices. Some even directly target anti-vaxxers with the message: “Vaccination certificate for COVID (for those who do not want to be vaccinated).”

As Alex Holden, chief information security officer for the cybersecurity firm Hold Security, told ABC7 News, “The notion of potential profit and abuse is in the air.”

Health pass scammers want not only your money but your data, too

Obviously, the scamsters are in it for your money. It costs very little in time, money or skills for a digital con artist to create a US COVID passport.

In most cases, an eBay listing, Photoshop, and an email account would be enough to build a steady business around the not-so-quickly fading pandemic.

But not all scammers are satisfied with selling bogus vaccine passports. The dark web, notably, aims for far more than simple COVID pass fraud. It eyes valuable personal data that can, say, open bank accounts or steal sensitive personal data.

This is the reason why other COVID health passports such as the European Digital Green Certificate are addressing data protection concerns in public and multiple meetings. It is expected that any similar initiative in the United States has the same level of cybersecurity.

With the right set of data, identity theft is a lucrative and longstanding proposition. As Tim Johnston of the Better Business Bureau serving Northern Nevada and Utah told KOLO TV, scammers “are either going to take your money, your information, or they’re going to take both.”

Technology plays key role to prevent fraudulent US health passes

Hackers seek to steer buyers to malicious websites where they can be tricked into sharing their personal data, such as Medicare ID and Social Security numbers, health plan information, or banking information.

Reports of such scams have prompted 45 attorneys general in the United States to urge Twitter, eBay and Shopify to take swift action to protect their users from COVID pass fraud in the US, and to block fraudsters from exploiting their platforms.

There are also several technologies being used worldwide to avoid scams and data misuse. For instance, South Korea has created a blockchain-based COVID certificate that makes it even harder to access health data without proper credentials.

Other countries, such as Denmark, Japan or France, are developing special COVID pass apps that operate via QR codes.

But ultimately, Americans need to be vigilant and be careful about what personal data, if any, they share on the internet, if they are to successfully sidestep rampant coronavirus pass fraud in the US.

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With world economies still on their backs and struggling to recuperate after the vicious impact of COVID-19, multiple travel air bubbles are in the works and are set to be the first step in the recovery direction along with COVID pass certificates.

But, exactly what is an air or travel bubble? What countries are on board with this initiative?

What are travel bubbles and how do they work?

Many attempts have been made to get the system back on track. The latest effort sees countries agreeing to exclusive quarantine-free travel between their borders if they deem each other a low enough risk.

The agreements are known as travel bubbles, or travel corridors, and exist where countries have been able to contain the virus to a certain degree.

Although tourism is not the first priority at this stage, countries with air bubble arrangements are eager to jumpstart their aviation industries and welcome citizens and business travelers.

These COVID air bubbles will also eliminate the quarantine requirement and most will simply require a negative PCR test taken no longer than 72 hours before arrival.

Benefits of using air bubbles when traveling abroad

2020 was a devastating year for sectors across the board, but few felt the impact quite like the travel and tourism industry.

More than 100 million people have lost their jobs and the World Tourism Organization estimates a 74% decline in international arrivals.

The WTO has also released figures showing export revenue losses of over USD 1.3 trillion, culminating in the corporations and economies being on the verge of a total collapse.

Safe, international travel bubbles can be a rapid option to establish COVID-free air routes that provide a chance to boost tourism, business gatherings, and a restart for global economies.

Major air bubbles to restore international travel & tourism

Several countries have set up travel bubbles to allow freedom of movement during the pandemic outbreak.

India: connected to the world via COVID-free travel corridors

India is leading the charge with the largest amount of COVID-free travel corridors. Benefits between airlines to and from India and its corresponding nations are reciprocated.

India is amongst the top 3 countries with the highest infection rate but they are also under the top 5 largest economies in the world. The following countries are part of India’s air bubble:

Singapore: A commercial & touristic nucleus with key travel bubbles

Singapore had a promising list of COVID-19 travel-approved countries, but as cases have spiked over time, they have suspended some of the arrangements. Recently suspended countries include Vietnam, Germany, and Japan.

A major arrangement that is in the pipeline is between Singapore and Hong Kong. These two business hubs would have opened their network by November 2020 but due to Hong Kong’s coronavirus infection increase, it was temporarily suspended.

Singaporean Minister for Transport, Ong Ye Kung, said in March 2021 that “[they] have received a proposal from Hong Kong to reopen borders safely” and that [they] are studying it and will be responding to Hong Kong shortly.” The new bubble agreement was scheduled for May 2021 but on 22 April Singapore postponed the announcement once again.

This travel bubble is one of the key networks that affect global commerce and all eyes are on this corner of Asia for further announcements.

Australia-New Zealand: Trans-Tasman air bubble has been set up

In the southern hemisphere, Australia and New Zealand have been applauded for their remarkable containment of the virus thanks to strict border control and lockdown measures.

The Trans-Tasman air-bubble was opened in late April 2021 and passengers can now travel quarantine-free between the two nations.

New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, says: “It is truly exciting to start quarantine-free travel with Australia. Be it returning family, friends, or holiday-makers, New Zealand says welcome and enjoy yourself.”

Both countries are also considering separate COVID-free travel corridors with other countries that pose a low risk. Many Pacific nations have been considered as they have some of the lowest infection rates in the world.

Taiwan-Palau: A travel corridor to track & trace visitors

This was the first official travel bubble in Asia and was met with great anticipation.

Palau has recorded zero coronavirus infections and poses no travel threat.

To keep their record low number, Taiwanese visitors are only allowed to join pre-approved tours with detailed itineraries. This will permit both countries to track and trace any possible patients and it will lower the unsupervised contact that citizens of the two nations have.

Tahiti-US: Quarantine-free flights for vaccinated travelers

Vaccine rollouts in the United States are steadily being implemented and this is opening more borders and travel opportunities for US citizens. France’s Covid-19 cases spiked again in January and all their borders remained shut, including those of overseas collectivity, French Polynesia.

As of the end of April 2021, quarantine-free flights from the USA to Tahiti are open for vaccinated citizens who can prove they have been in the US no less than one month before departure. Non-vaccinated travelers will however be required to undertake a mandatory 10-day quarantine.

Currently, different states of the US assess the idea of COVID pass certificates, and how would they work within their communities.

The European Union’s current travel air bubbles

Europe has seen all-time high COVID-19 numbers at the beginning of 2021 and countries are closing their borders routinely. The Union has however welcomed citizens from these countries to enter the Schengen Zone:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Rwanda
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Thailand

Member States are also advised to re-open to citizens from Macau and Hong Kong, China’s special administrative regions. Subject to reciprocity, China could also be allowed back in soon.

Germany has recently confirmed that they will allow the aforementioned nations, except for Rwanda. EU citizens and travelers from Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland are also allowed into Germany.

Travel bubbles & COVID passes: How they work together

Travel bubbles have proven to be a temporary fix as vaccine rollouts continue. In cases like the Hong Kong–Singapore bubble, a sudden resurgence in cases can instantly close the bubble.

COVID passes, or vaccine passports, on the other hand, should stabilize the bubbles in the future and allow the corridors to stay open for longer periods.

The system is susceptible to falsified vaccine certification but countries like Singapore or South Korea are looking to incorporate blockchain technology to prevent this.

Other nations like South Africa and Brazil have been red-listed and won’t soon be included in the major bubbles.

Slow vaccine rollouts, no immediate plans for COVID passes and suspected mutated strains are placing many countries on the no-fly list for the foreseeable future.

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The European microstate of Andorra is working on the “development and implementation of a COVID-19 certificate in Andorra with aims of facilitating the movement of residents in the country through the European Union,” informed the local authorities via a press release.

The creation and recognition of such a travel document involve working on three key levels. According to the Andorran Govern, national, bilateral, and European negotiations are needed at this stage.

Negotiations to make the Andorran health pass happen

Both the Prime Minister of Andorra, Xavier Espot, and other officers of the Andorran government are currently negotiating the way of launching a COVID passport that is secure, reliable, and recognized by other European countries.

At a national level, the Andorran Health Ministry is leading the research of technological tools that are suitable to issue this sort of health certificate both in digital format and in paper.

The microstate’s Health Care Service (SAAS) is also collaborating to learn how this local proposal can be coordinated with the soon-to-come EU Digital Green Certificate.

The neighboring countries are also key for a microstate like Andorra. That is why local authorities are holding special meetings with the Spanish and French governments so they can determine a joint, legal, and temporary solution that allows freedom of movement from and to the Principality.

The gatherings to discuss the validity of a future Andorran COVID pass have also been extended to Portuguese authorities, members of the European Parliament, and officers of the European Commission.

COVID certificate & an Andorran model for safe travel

During a recent Ibero-American Summit held in Andorra, the Minister of Tourism, Verònica Canals Riba, explained how the coronavirus crisis obliged the country to “reinvent itself in the tourism sector.”

The Andorran officer also assured that the local government “bets on the Andorran model,” which conceives the microstate as a safe territory to travel, especially if a health pass is soon deployed.

Some of the most sought-after European markets that are key for Andorran tourism are its neighboring countries (Spain and France), as well as the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Ireland, Italy, and Germany.

The tourism industry represents around 80% of Andorra’s gross domestic product.

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“There is a tendency to grant a special passport to vaccinated people wishing to travel to any other country,” said the Iraqi Health Minister Hassan Al-Tamini to the Iraqi News Agency on April 18th, 2021.

According to Al-Tamini, the government of Iraq is currently analyzing and considering all the information to learn if and how an Iraqi COVID passport could be issued.

The ministry will “rely on the electronic platform for people who are registered in it,” referring to the database where Iraqi citizens indicate if they are being vaccinated against COVID-19, which provides “accurate information about the citizens who will obtain a special card.”

Al-Halfi: Iraqi vaccine card is not a COVID passport

After the Health Minister of Iraq revealed the possibility of having a COVID certificate to travel, local media and citizens raised doubts regarding the nature of such a document.

Is the vaccine card the same as the COVID passport? Can vaccinated Iraqi nationals travel with just their vaccine card?

Riyad Abdul Amir Al-Halfi, Director of Public Health, clarified on April 19th that “the current card is not for travel, but rather for determining the second date for the vaccine.”

Vaccination rate in Iraq

Currently, the country has received shipments of the Sinopharm, Pfizer-BioNTech, and AstraZeneca jabs, while the government has established that key groups of the Iraqi population must be vaccinated.

The compulsory vaccination is meant for medical staff, government officers, and workers from restaurants, shopping centers, and factories that are under the Iraqi government supervision.

More than 200,000 people have received at least a COVID vaccine dose, according to information provided by the Iraqi Health Ministry.

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