The European Commission proposed today to extend the use of covid certificates for one year in order to facilitate travel through the bloc of 27 countries during the pandemic until the end of June 2023, reports AP today.
"At this stage, it is not possible to determine the impact of a possible increase in infection in the second half of 2022 or the appearance of new variants," the Commission announced.
In order for it to come into force, the extension proposal must be accepted by the members of the European Union (UN) and the European Parliament, N1 reports.
The coronavirus certificates came into effect in July 2021 and have been a successful tool to help EU citizens travel to the region during the pandemic without restrictions such as quarantine.
So far, EU countries have issued more than 1,2 billion certificates.
Under the updated rules that have been in force since February, EU countries must accept vaccination certificates within nine months after the last dose of primary vaccination or after the booster vaccine.
A negative PCR test not older than 72 hours before travel or a negative rapid antigen test not older than 24 hours may also be included in the certificate, as well as proof of recovery from the virus less than six months ago.
In addition to the extension, the EU's executive branch proposed that certificates could be issued to people participating in clinical trials for coronavirus vaccines to encourage vaccine research.
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