France has become the first EU member state to launch a digital COVID-19 health pass, as part of a programme that the European commission hopes will allow travel within the bloc by summer.
The TousAntiCovid app, which is part of the country’s contact tracing programme, has been upgraded to store negative COVID-19 test results on travellers’ mobile phones.
The app will be trialled on flights to Ajaccio in Corsica with Air France and Air Corsica informing their eligible customers beforehand. This will be followed by trials to France’s overseas territories in the next few weeks.
French citizens who have taken a COVID-19 test will now receive a text or email from the lab with a document featuring a QR code, which can be scanned to upload test results directly to the app. Those who do not wish to use the app can print out a certificate instead, which also features the QR code. According to Le Monde, this will be extended to incorporate vaccination results from April 29.
Beyond travel, the app could eventually be adopted for public events such as concerts, festivals and trade fairs, although not for bars and restaurants.
In a Twitter post, France’s Secretary of State for Digital Cédric O described the app as “the first step towards safe travel across the European Union.”
.@TousAntiCovid évolue !
Avec #TousAntiCovid-Carnet, vous pourrez intégrer dans l’app grâce à un #QRCode :
➡️Les résultats des tests
➡️Votre certificat de vaccination
Une 1ère étape qui vous permettra de voyager en 🇪🇺 en toute sécurité.@olivierveran @Djebbari_JB @CBeaune pic.twitter.com/cPfSgOHciw— Cédric O (@cedric_o) April 19, 2021
