With rising case numbers in across the DACH (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) region and the rest of Europe, a fully vaccinated status might become compulsory for the use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC) soon – at least in some countries.

As of today (1 February) the Austrian COVID-19 vaccine mandate has come into force for all adults – which makes Austria the first EU country to introduce such measure.

If not pregnant or severely ill, Austrians aged 18 and older will face a penalty fine of up to €3,600 if they do not comply with the new mandate by mid-March. In return, the Austrian government loosened public restrictions.

WHY IT MATTERS

Meanwhile, Germany is still discussing a potential mandatory COVID-19 vaccination with restrictions for the unvaccinated being maintained. Thus, negative test results or the recovery status would no longer be accepted.

Germany has introduced compulsory COVID-19 vaccination limited to all employees in hospitals, nursing homes, facilities for the disabled, emergency services, medical surgeries and maternity facilities which must be applied by mid March.

The target to vaccinate 80% per cent of the German population at least once by the end of January 2022 has not been reached, according to a government announcement yesterday.

In contrast to Austria, Switzerland is setting up a public poll to decide whether vaccinations can be made compulsory at all before a mandate for the vaccination status in the CovPass app will be even debated.

The immunisation status shown in the CovPass app will be the only valid entry criteria across the EU, while national case numbers will no longer have a bearing. With double vaccination, EU citizens currently have a valid EUDCC for up to nine months without additional testing.

THE LARGER TREND

For the last seven days, the World Health Organisation (WHO) registered about 11,287,292 newly reported cases in Europe which is nearly double the case numbers compared to a month ago. About a third of cases in Europe are said to be caused by the Omicron variant.

Italy and Greece have introduced a compulsory vaccination for the elderly only.

Some EU countries – Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands – are going in the opposite direction, by opting for reduced or lifting restrictions completely. Denmark has in fact eased all restrictions as of today, including compulsory masks. The Danish government has stated that COVID-19 as a disease is now no longer of critical impact on society.

ON THE RECORD

In contrast, Austria’s health minister Wolfgang Mückstein stated: “Corona vaccination is an act of solidarity and cohesion. The more people get vaccinated, the fewer die from the consequences of the pandemic.”