Digital Covid-19 certificate questions answered

Take note – story published 2 years ago

The Covid-19 digital certificate, which can be used to attend public events, travel freely and use other services, has been active in Latvia for more than two weeks. During that period Latvian Television has received a number of viewers' questions about it and has produced this guide as a result.

On the website covid19sertifikats.lv everyone with access to the State authentication system can download their certificate. Three types are currently available: one attesting to the fact of vaccination, the second shows the laboratory test result, and the third confirms that the person has had Covid-19. Each certificate contains a unique QR code.

Should a new certificate be created after the second vaccine dose?

The vaccination certificate can also be presented if only one dose has been received. For example, in the case of AstraZeneca in Latvia, the certificate can be used by those for whom 22 days have passed after the first shot. But regardless of the type of the vaccine, another certificate should be downloaded after the second dose.

Does the certificate have an expiry date?

The certificate itself does not have a period of validity, but the fact that it certifies does. For example, after vaccination, the certificate will only be declared valid after at least 14 days after Janssen's vaccine, or both shots of Pfizer and Moderna, or 22 days after the first shot of AstraZeneca. The fact of vaccination does not currently have an expiry date.

However, a certificate attesting to having had the infection is valid for 180 days after the positive test result, the negative Covid-19 test result is valid for 48 hours, while the rapid antigen test is valid for six hours.

Is a certificate valid in printed form?

Yes. It is also possible to check the printed certificate, and given that the phone or any other device can run out of battery, it is even recommended to print and carry a certificate.

Will our verified data and codes be stored anywhere?

The National Health Service responds – no, it will only be checked on the time of the visit to the event or any other need.

How can people who live and work in Latvia, but do not have the Latvian personal code, get their certificates?

If a person is staying, working in Latvia and has also vaccinated here, he or she must turn to the medical treatment institution where vaccination took place. And that authority must create the necessary certificate for the person and issue it. But if a person has previously vaccinated in another state, they should submit a document certifying vaccination to a medical treatment institution and it will issue the necessary certificate.

LTV also tested how the certificates work downloading a special app on the cellphone “Covid-19 Verify.” For the time being, it is only available for Apple phones. The app can be used to verify the validity of a Covid-19 certificate.  While there is no app for Android-type phones, you can also check the validity of the certificate on the “covid19sertifikats.lv” website by pressing the “Verify Certificate” button.

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