The COVID-19-Free Travel app makes available the status of those vaccinated in Belarus and those recovered in Armenia
Moscow, 21 October 2021. The Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Fund for Digital Initiatives has added new functions to the COVID-19-Free Travel app. It is now possible for those vaccinated in Belarus and those who have recovered from COVID-19 in Armenia to upload their status.
The app is currently rated 4.6 out of 5.0 on the App Store and is among the top twenty apps in the Medical category. Google Play users rate the app at 4.3 out of 5.0.
The app earlier made it possible to upload and display the records of COVID-19 vaccination received in Armenia, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Russia. Around 80,000 people have already used this option.
To upload a record of vaccination to the COVID-19-Free Travel app, users need to select the Vaccination tab and scan the QR code on the vaccination certificate.
The app currently has 1.5 million users and has been used around 3.5 million times to retrieve PCR test results. Passengers who travel to Russia from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan must produce test results from the app.
Around 7,831 labs have already signed up to the app: 113 in Armenia, 77 in Belarus, 4,789 in Russia, 1,798 in Kazakhstan, 227 in the Kyrgyz Republic, 179 in Tajikistan, 242 in Uzbekistan, 287 in Azerbaijan and 119 in Moldova.
Importantly, the procedure for crossing the border with the COVID-19-Free Travel app and the information that needs to be provided in it (PCR test, vaccination or recovery records) are regulated by national laws.
COVID-19-Free Travel is the first project by the EDB Fund for Digital Initiatives. Its aim is to allow people to move freely and safely between countries during the coronavirus pandemic. The app reduces the risk of spreading the disease and offers a reliable system of cross-border checks. Its architecture is unique in that no personal data is used in information exchange. All user-related data are stored only in the country where the test took place, making it possible to protect personal data in accordance with national laws.
When a person is tested in the country of departure, the lab submits the result to the national system and it appears as a QR code in the app. When the QR codes are provided to third parties, including regulatory authorities in the EAEU countries, the app allows them to verify these codes in real time. The users can also show their test results as a QR code if required by hotels, restaurants, airlines or other counterparties.
The app is available in App Store, Google Play and AppGallery (Huawei app store).
Additional Information:
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) is an international financial institution investing in Eurasia. For 15 years, the Bank has worked to strengthen and broaden economic ties and foster comprehensive development in its member countries – Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia and Tajikistan. The EDB's charter capital totals US $7 billion. Its portfolio consists principally of projects with an integration effect in transport infrastructure, digital systems, green energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and mechanical engineering. The Bank adheres to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles in its operations.
The Eurasian Development Bank’s Fund for Digital Initiatives was established by the Bank’s Council on 30 June 2020. The Fund’s objective is to assist EDB member states in creating digital transformation tools and practices by integrating their information resources and participating in the development and financing of projects, including those implemented under the Eurasian Economic Union’s Digital Agenda 2025. The Fund’s priorities in Tajikistan will be to ensure the country’s energy security by developing small hydro and solar energy, reconstruct the power grid, ensure food security by developing agricultural processing, diversify manufacturing, develop entrepreneurship by setting up manufacturing enterprises and supporting small and medium-sized businesses, promote digital transformation by taking part in the development of digital solutions aimed at strengthening integration ties, and support public and corporate digital projects.
The EDB Media Centre:
Azima Sapargaliyeva +7 (777) 750 00 08 (Almaty)
Sergey Gorbachev +7 (916) 727 22 00 (Moscow)