COVID certificate reader app now available in app stores for use by operators and event organisers
The parliament has approved the Government proposal on the introduction of the COVID passport in Finland. Finland uses EU COVID certificates as COVID passports, and these can be obtained from My Kanta or, where needed, as a printout from the public health service. The EU COVID certificate includes three certificates: a certificate of COVID-19 vaccination, a certificate of a negative test result or a certificate of having recovered from COVID-19.
The COVID certificate is read by an app that does not collect, store or display health information. The reader is intended for use by operators such as restaurants, night clubs, and organisers of public events and other events.
The app immediately shows either green for approved or red for rejected. If the result is approved, the name of the person is also displayed.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is responsible for the technical implementation of the QR code reader under the funding and guidance of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Solita is responsible for the technical development of the application. The functionality and usability of the app has been piloted together with the City of Helsinki.
The COVID certificate reader app is used to read the COVID passport
The COVID certificate reader app is available in Apple and Google app stores and can be downloaded to your smartphone.
Links to apps:
‘If the organiser of the event requires participants to have a COVID passport, participants must obtain from My Kanta an EU COVID certificate, which serves as a COVID passport, and either store it on their phone or print it out. In other words, the participants do not need to download the reader application,’ explains THL Data Architect Mika Pihlajamäki.
‘The reader is a simple tool for anyone who may need to require COVID passports in order to protect their activities. With the help of technology, we can facilitate the opening of society within the limits allowed by the pandemic,’ says Risto Kaikkonen, Director of the Health and Wellbeing Division at Solita.
The COVID passport is an alternative to restrictions
Operators subject to coronavirus restrictions, such as restaurants or public event organisers, may voluntarily choose to use the COVID passport.
If it is required by the organiser, customers or participants must present their COVID passport in order to be admitted or to participate in an event.
Using COVID certificates is an alternative to complying with coronavirus restrictions on customer numbers or opening hours. The decision on its use is made by the event organisers or operators. Once there are no restrictions, the passport will no longer be needed. If a space is closed due to a serious coronavirus situation or if an event is completely prohibited, the COVID passport cannot be used as an alternative.
- Instructions for obtaining an EU COVID certificate from My Kanta
- Information on the application for reading COVID passports (the COVID certificate reader) from the THL website
- Freely available materials compiled in the THL data bank to support organisations in introducing the COVID passport
- Frequently asked questions about coronavirus restrictions from the Regional State Administrative Agencies website
- Basic information about the COVID passport
Additional information
Mika Pihlajamäki
THL
Data Architect
Tel. +358 (0)29 524 7733
[email protected]
Risto Kaikkonen
Solita Oy
Director of Health and Wellbeing Division
Tel. +358 (0)41 536 8745
[email protected]
