Austria to introduce coronavirus immunity passport in April
Austria is set to introduce a coronavirus immunity passport, known as a ‘Green Card’, in April. The card will be for vaccinated people as well as those who have recovered from the virus and who have tested negative.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been one of the main proponents of the so-called Green Card as an important step to allow a return to normality.
Few specifics are known at this stage of the way Austria’s green card will operate, however it has been modelled on the card implemented in Israel in February.
The card will be part of a European Union initiative to allow people with coronavirus immunity to travel across the bloc again.
While the EU immunity passport is expected to cover travel only and will not be rolled out until June or July, Austria hopes to have its own version by April.
"We don't want to wait for implementation at European level," said Kurz on Wednesday.
In Austria it is also expected to allow people certain privileges domestically, such as attending bars and restaurants, events and fitness centres.
Austria’s Health Minister Rudolf Anschober is overseeing the project and will begin the legal preparations on Friday, March 19th.
Anschober said there were unlikely to be any legal or civil liberties issues with the plan, with the legal foundation stable under the Epidemics Act and the Covid-19 Measures Act.
Representatives of the tourism and hospitality industries have welcomed the move.
Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger said the plan would allow Austrians to head abroad and people to visit Austria again.
"A user-friendly digital solution that provides information about vaccinations, test results or infection is the key to being able to travel again," she said on Wednesday.
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Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has been one of the main proponents of the so-called Green Card as an important step to allow a return to normality.
Few specifics are known at this stage of the way Austria’s green card will operate, however it has been modelled on the card implemented in Israel in February.
The card will be part of a European Union initiative to allow people with coronavirus immunity to travel across the bloc again.
While the EU immunity passport is expected to cover travel only and will not be rolled out until June or July, Austria hopes to have its own version by April.
"We don't want to wait for implementation at European level," said Kurz on Wednesday.
In Austria it is also expected to allow people certain privileges domestically, such as attending bars and restaurants, events and fitness centres.
Austria’s Health Minister Rudolf Anschober is overseeing the project and will begin the legal preparations on Friday, March 19th.
Anschober said there were unlikely to be any legal or civil liberties issues with the plan, with the legal foundation stable under the Epidemics Act and the Covid-19 Measures Act.
Representatives of the tourism and hospitality industries have welcomed the move.
Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger said the plan would allow Austrians to head abroad and people to visit Austria again.
"A user-friendly digital solution that provides information about vaccinations, test results or infection is the key to being able to travel again," she said on Wednesday.
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