Northern Ireland’s Department of Health (DoH) has launched a verification app for checking NI Covid-19 vaccination ‘domestic use’ certificates.
The existing COVIDCert NI app for international travel has also been updated to allow people to display a domestic use certificate in addition to the existing certificate for travel.
The new verification app – named Cert Check NI and which can be used on a smartphone or tablet –will facilitate voluntary use of vaccine certification in hospitality and entertainment settings. DoH said it will be more user-friendly and reliable than using the printed vaccination cards.
The update of the COVIDCert NI app provides a new domestic use certificate for validation of vaccination status (using the Cert Check NI app) without the need to show ID, and without revealing any personal information.
When a person uses the updated COVIDCert NI app, they will have the option to activate their domestic certificate. The process includes taking a selfie, which is locked into the app and remains on the user’s phone to prevent other people using the certificate and avoids the need for a separate photo ID.
Decisions on whether domestic certification would be introduced on a compulsory basis in Northern Ireland settings will rest with the Northern Ireland Executive. Its recently published Covid-19 autumn/winter contingency plan sets out a number of potential contingency measures which it may decide to use, including “the potential to deploy Covid status certification in higher risk settings if considered appropriate and necessary”.
Image from GOV.UK, Open Government Licence v3.0
