Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Welcome to 2021 – Digital Covid Passports | VIDEO

Published

6 months ago

Monday, December 28, 2020

Documentation, including your current Covid status and vaccination details, will become 2021’s biggest challenge as governments, businesses, and the travel industry try and re-establish some sort of workable way forward.

Several companies and technology groups are developing smartphone apps or systems for individuals to upload details of their Covid-19 tests and vaccinations, creating digital credentials that could be shown in order to enter public building, sports stadiums, movie theatres, or even other countries.

One is the Common Trust Network, an initiative by Geneva-based non-profit The Commons Project and the World Economic Forum.

The new app will allow users to upload medical data and generate a QR code ‘health certificate’ without revealing sensitive information.

For travel, the app can lists health pass requirements relating to the countries you intend to visit.

The next challenge facing the world after populations become more widely inoculated will be privacy issues and representing the effectiveness of the different vaccines.

Are you worried about privacy? Do you think all countries will require such documentation for travel? How about entering public buildings or shops? Let’s hear your comments below…

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31 Comments

Toby Andrews

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 6:01 pm

A good idea.

Reply
- preesy chepuce
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 9:08 pm
  
  The CCP dragon will be licking its lips, all those piles of data gold to harvest and hold, the West better wake up soon, and slay the dragon before it starts breathing fire.
  
  Reply
- Jake Pattaya
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 10:27 pm
  
  It’s safer to get vaccination than Covid. Anyone disagree?
  
  Reply
  - Kalims
    
    Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 1:57 am
    
    I disagree! In Ireland there have been 130 deaths under the age of 65 out of over 65000 cases.
    If you are over 70 yes you should probably take the vaccine!or if you have health problems or over weight
    
    Reply
    - Ed Peters
      
      Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 10:57 pm
      
      1 in 800 Afro Americans have died from it , mainly from 35 to 45, my interpreters wife died from it she was 34 and a good friends son in Italy passed he was 24, everyone needs to take the vaccine it will continue to mutate and will eventually be resistant to the current vaccine, this is not going anywhere its something the world will be living with for some time to come to come. People who worry about privacy need to understand how the information in apps work and unless you are a criminal why worry about it.
      
      Reply
Alte Ledertasche

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 6:04 pm

To keep it simple. If a country or event or whoever requires vaccination I will simply NOT visit. Same as I will never download one of this new tracking apps or this new Covid app on my smartphone.

Luckily the destinations I opt after leaving LOScam have already announced that vaccination is voluntary so there will be as it stands now no such requirement anyway.

Reply
- Peter
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 6:12 pm
  
  That’s great. I hopefully won’t have to listen to any conspiracy nut case in the bars or anywhere else in Thailand anymore.
  You can all stick together somewhere else.
  
  Reply
- Ray
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 6:31 pm
  
  In the near future be prepared to be landlocked in your home country. I reckon the Covid-19 passport will be become just as important as a regular copy when traveling. Likely, in your country it will even be mandatory when visiting events.
  
  Reply
- ้้็็็็็็็้๊Hugh Mungus
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 7:12 pm
  
  Enjoy your time at home
  
  Reply
- The Thaiger
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 8:24 pm
  
  Not sure how you’ll get there. A plane? You better check what conditions airlines are going to impose on you. IATA has already said that all airlines will impose passenger restrictions. On a happier note, there’s a shoe sale at Terminal 21.
  
  Reply
  - Alte Ledertasche
    
    Monday, December 28, 2020 at 8:42 pm
    
    You are talking Bullshit as usual.
    
    Only FYI, the CEO of Lufthansa for example – the company which is stated in another of your articles here as being involved in this covid passport program – said yesterday that they not plan to ask people for being vaccinated before they enter a fight with Lufthansa, they still opt for PCR tests as sufficient.
    
    So what you are talking about ? All Airlines, yes they may impose restrictions but they will definitely not ALL ask for a vaccination or digital covid passport.
    
    Off note what IATA says or not is not important, important are the rules set by the relevant countries you plan to visit. They giving the direction and sure countries where vaccination is not mandatory as for example most countries in the EU and the CIS will not set up such requirements. If you like it or not.
    
    Reply
    - preesy chepuce
      
      Monday, December 28, 2020 at 9:09 pm
      
      Even so, the sea is not made of lava… even if the floor is, on planet COVID.
      
      Reply
    - TS
      
      Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 11:42 am
      
      …they will definitely not…?
      
      Really? Nothing these days is definite sir. What’s said today by some airline or immigration office can change in a heartbeat. Like it or not, the digital health app or some valid health hard copy with photo for international travel will become as standard as a passport. The sooner the better so we can, hopefully, come and go almost as in the pre-covid days
      
      Reply
London Al

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 7:11 pm

This is the future for sure, the sooner the better because every country wants tourists back, I thought IATA were about to announce something along these lines, the vaccination in tandem with testing will open up travel again, maybe not for Alte though.

Reply
Panda

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 7:19 pm

Why should one use such app ?
The ones who fear the virus get vaccinated and no need to impose travel restrictions to others.
If you are vaccinated, why should one prove he does not have COVID-19 as you cannot get contaminated by him ?
Common sense !!!

Reply
- preesy chepuce
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 9:13 pm
  
  The thing about “apps” is that you can have several phones, burn phones, swap phones, use various layers to obfuscate your data, and in this information control arms race, regimes will struggle to be as agile as the resistance. In the end, they will have to take out our brain and stuff them in jars full of electrodes if they want to control where we go and what we can know. Resistance may be futile, but so is persistence. Life needs to live, it’s not just about shopping and voting. Despite all the fearmongering and armtwisting and psychological manipulation, humans need quality of life.
  
  Reply
Mick Pelling

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 8:12 pm

Personally, I am desperate to resume my travels,which includes 4 weeks at a time in Thailand.
I will do anything to be allowed the freedom of travel.
I have nothing to hide,you cannot hide behind the cloak of privacy,those that do should not be allowed outside of their home town

Reply
- Panda
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 8:43 pm
  
  Wow, Mick,
  What an interesting concept.
  That you are willing to accept all measures for having your 4 weeks holiday in Thailand is up to you.
  However, being ready to impose drastic restrictions to others if they don’t comply your personal point of view sounds quite extreme, doesn’t it?
  The cloak of privacy is a fully understandable concern to many.
  As you clearly state, it is not one of yours.
  Still that doesn’t mean those who are concerned about it are idiots fueled by conspiracy theories, neither does it mean they have something to hide but simply they are concerned about where their data ends and for what purposes it could be used.
  
  Reply
Panda

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 8:24 pm

I just hope test become less invasive and painful, with faster and more accurate results.
Also I hope those who don’t want to vaccinate will not be restricted traveling if they undergo quarantine.
Many are not willing to take the jab.
If they are not allowed to travel it would drastically have a negative impact on tourism.
A digitalized app could ease immigration checking avoiding congested lanes at airports and borders.
However data privacy remains a growing concern. Hopefully, if brought to use, it doesn’t refrain too many people from traveling…

Reply
- EdwardV
  
  Monday, December 28, 2020 at 10:22 pm
  
  There was an article in yesterday’s BP talking about tourism going forward and expectations. It said Thailand is considering a two prong system starting after the second quarter of 2021. One is to continue the existing system of allowing people in if they quarantine for 14 days. The other to allow those with documentation of vaccination and a clean COVID test to enter without quarantine. Of course with the second part the devil will be in the details like always but it would get tourists coming again. They also cut in half their projected tourist numbers for 2021 to about 5M total. A much more realistic number if you ask me.
  
  Reply
Bigsleazypappa

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 9:16 pm

Absolute fantastic idea,it’s the safest and tbh only way of safety by numbers that can get the world moving again,there’s going to be some people moaning about absolutely anything, but the moaners will always be no matter how good any idea is!!!

Reply
- London Al
  
  Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 4:38 am
  
  Well said, and oddly the moaners never have any ideas of their own.
  
  My only question to the Thai government would be why wait until 2nd quarter? Assuming no UK distribution cock-ups (fairly large assumption given UK gov track record thus far) I expect to be vaccinated and fully immune by end Jan, I’d be happy to pay for a test in London and another 2 in Thailand to make absolutely certain.
  
  Reply
Karl Smythe

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 9:55 pm

When Huxley predicted that people would be manipulated into begging for their rights to be taken away from them, he was talking about people like you. Take a step back and contemplate what you’re asking for and what the consequences might be down the line. People have fought and died for thousands of years for the freedom that you’re begging to be taken away from you.

Reply
- Panda
  
  Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at 10:29 am
  
  Well said Karl.
  I am stranded by some comments I read.
  Idiots begging to get rid of their freedom for their 4 weeks holiday.
  The most chocking and disgusting is they are supporting to impose drastic measures to others.
  I wish them all a happy vaccination.
  Don’t worry guys, ones you are vaccinated, COVID carriers are no more a threat to you and hopefully you will very soon no more be one to anyone too
  
  Reply
Happy Tourist

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 10:16 pm

I would go today, arai gadai. I would show vaccination and install the apps needed and make pcr test on arrival. But cancel the ASQ. It’s useless time that’s lost forever.

Reply
Al

Monday, December 28, 2020 at 10:42 pm

Search engine this video.

“UPDATE GEMMA O’DOHERTY: THEY WERE FORCED TO ADMIT: ‘THE VIRUS’ DOES NOT EXIST”

It DOESN’T exist and many have been saying this for a long, long time. There is NO proof. It has NEVER been even isolated. 😉

Reply
Farang

Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 1:28 am

Lol no thanks may be slave like Chinese will do it i am not
Thailand not let me in without it? Okay I travel somewhere else. Thais think to much about themselves only 40 millions travel to Thailand most of Chinese. In the world in 2019 was committed 1.5 billions tourist trips so Thailand visit 2.6%
Lol you really think the world will die without you?
No guys it you become Chinese servants without world in Thai China travel bubble)))))

Reply
Mike

Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 7:53 am

Just as those of us who still have and recall the Yellow Fever “Yellow authenicated Vaccine” card we all had to carry back in the 80’s for some countries. It will ultimately only be the WHO will issue as the global body and not parties with such as IATA which have a conflict of interest. It needs a medical oversight, not just an app.

Just as we have today ICAO provide a global repository to authenicate passport chip date from different states and its likely that the WHO will be the only global party who will check credentials centrally. But there will be numerous apps registered that will be able to send request to authenticate their customer data such as airlines, hotels and soon sporting events like Olympics etc But as with passports it will be each member state to issue an approved digital certificate using the new standards and like passports this will likely be MOH as the body responsible for this. Not hospitals or commercial appointed apps

This is already part of the pre-checkin progress both paper based (Thailand) and Digital in trial Singapore

So while a vaccine will be voluntary you will then be restricted if elect not to have in what you can do and where you can fly to.

Just my 2 cents

Reply
disgusted `

Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 7:55 am

There will be no privacy. Most of these apps including the one supposedly being made by a local Thai company will have the ability to track and trace your every move and your locations. Privacy is at risk for anyone who uses it.
Say hello to big brother.

Reply
Robert

Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at 7:38 pm

World Economic Forum is full of CCP Members who represent Face recognition companies that belong to the WEF. Not to be Trusted.

Reply
TS

Thursday, December 31, 2020 at 8:01 am

Vaccine jabs, Covid negative proof? You’ll still be quarantining 15 days at your expense after entering thailand. Very few foreign tourists coming but los will squeeze as much as possible out of anyone who does.

Reply