Is the green certificate becoming the norm?
Just like other countries, Romania is considering the mandatory green certificate for certain professional categories
România Internațional, 15.10.2021, 14:00
In Romania, the debate on imposing the obligation of a green certificate for certain professional categories is not new. The large number of antivaxxers and vaccine sceptics, translated into a low immunisation rate, the one but last in the European Union, makes the debate all the more useful.
There is a bill in Parliament now that stipulates that staff in hospitals, the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Public Health, the National Health Insurance House and their subordinate institutions could be required to present the green certificate at the beginning of the work program. Employees in private hospitals are also targeted.
The certificate will provide evidence of one of the following: vaccination against COVID-19, the holder of the document has had the disease and is in the period between the 15th and 180th day after confirmation of infection with the SARS-VOC-2 virus or the negative result of a PCR test, or of a rapid antigen test .In the case of public units, the tests will be paid by the employee, but for those who can prove with medical documents that they have contraindications to vaccination, the tests will be paid by the employer. For private units, the costs will be borne according to the procedures established at company level, either by the employees or by the employer.
The interim Minister of Health, Cseke Atilla, has specified that compared to the option currently under public debate, the new version provides for the introduction of the mandatory digital certificate also for the Ministry of Health and its subordinated units, including the National Health Insurance House and its subordinated divisions.
Interim Prime Minister Florin Cîţu has added that he would like this green COVID certificate to be used in all economic activities. If we still want to have an open economy, I think this is a measure that would help a lot, the prime minister stressed. With more than 130,000 dead, Italy paid a painful price at the start of the pandemic more than a year and a half ago.
The country is now at the forefront of measures to overcome resistance to vaccination. The COVID-19 health certificate is, as of Friday, mandatory in the Peninsula, both in the public and in the private sector.Vaccination had already become mandatory for the medical staff, and the certificate was being required also of teachers.
The Draghi government said, however, that it was still not enough to ensure a level of immunity that would prevent new outbreaks of COVID-19 that could disrupt economic activity, FP’ reports. In Italy, over 80% of the people over the age of 12 have gone through the full vaccination regimen and 85% got at least the first dose. The measure that came into force on Friday is meant to encourage vaccination, but is being rejected by millions of employees. (MI)
