CovScan check required from today - What about authentication

As of today, it is mandatory to control the possession of SafePass through the CovScan Cyprus application.

The application quickly and securely certifies the validity of the European Digital Certificate (EUDCC) for SafePass purposes. Therefore, citizens will have until November 22 to issue the European Digital Certificate through the website https://www.eudcc.gov.cy/.

The EUDCC can be presented in digital form on a mobile phone (smartphone) or in printed form, provided that the QR code is displayed on it. With regard to the issuance of a certificate of vaccination or recovery, the issuance is done once, while in the case of a certificate of negative test result, the procedure is repeated each time a new test is performed.

In establishments / companies where more than 10 people can be accommodated and SafePass possession is required, their owners / managers or their authorized employees must, until November 22, ensure the implementation, in order to carry out the controls. The application can be installed on any device using Android software and is available for free through Google Play. Instructions for how the application works can be found at the link: https://wiki.eudcc.gov.cy/COVSCAN_Android_EN.pdf.

It is clarified that in the cases of shopping malls or department stores, where they are housed in more than one business, the control is done at the entrance of the shopping center / department store and no re-inspection is required by the companies within them.

From the digital control of the QR code, at this stage are excluded the citizens who belong to the following groups and who can, if they wish, present SafePass in another form (see below):

1. Persons aged 65 and over,

2. People aged 18 and under,

3. Turkish Cypriot citizens who have been vaccinated in areas of the Republic of Cyprus where the Government does not exercise effective control;

4. Tourists (ie persons permanently resident in the Republic and entering the Republic legally) who have been vaccinated in countries other than those of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, and

5. Permanent / legal residents of Cyprus who have been vaccinated in countries other than those of the European Union, the European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland. It is emphasized that persons falling into the above categories will be checked for SafePass and must present a certificate proving that they meet one of the requirements of SafePass (vaccination card or certificate of recovery from COVID-19 in printed form or text message or certificate of negative result from PCR or rapid antigen test in printed form or text message).

It is reminded that the control through the application is done by scanning the QR code indicated on the certificate (in printed or electronic form) and presents the following results of validity control:

- Green: The certificate is valid and means that the holder has completed his vaccination regimen or has contracted the disease COVID-19.

- Blue: The certificate is valid and means that the holder has undergone a PCR test with a negative result,

- Yellow / Orange: The certificate is valid and means that the holder has undergone a rapid antigen test with a negative result.

- Red: The certificate is invalid.

What about identification?

Speaking on state radio on Monday morning, the Police Spokesman, Christos Andreou, said that the identification weighs on the owners and that is why the entrance must be identified.

That is, after the check, with the CovScan, the citizen shows an identity card or other document that proves that the certificate he presented for check is his. Asked about the issue, the Deputy Minister of Research and Innovation said that in his opinion this should not be done since it concerns privacy and data issues.