Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Green Pass’ to aid safe travel across nations
BRUSSELS has unveiled plans for an Eu-wide vaccine passport to let citizens travel safely between member states.
It hopes the “Green Pass” will help countries’ hard-hit tourism industries recover from the battering they have suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The passport will show whether a person has had a European Medicines Agency-approved vaccine.
But Brussels chiefs said it will be up to member states whether they accept the Russian or Chinese jab, neither of which have been given the EMA green light.
It will also show negative test results, as well as whether the holder has previously recovered from the virus.
The certificate was discussed at a European Commission College meeting yesterday. President Ursula von der Leyen said: “We aim to help member states reinstate freedom of movement in a safe, responsible and trusted manner.”
The UK will not have access to the system due to leaving the EU.
Michael Gove is leading a review into plans for the UK to introduce a similar vaccine passport to allow access to travel, hospitality and entertainment.
P&O Cruises has said it would only accept passengers who have had both vaccine doses for trips this summer.
A SUSPECT device found in Fermanagh yesterday was “small and crude, but potentially viable”, the police have said.
The device was found in a search operation in Enniskillen following claims made by the Continuity IRA on Monday that it had fired shots at the local police station and left a device nearby.
PSNI Chief Superintendent Andy Freeburn, said: “This device was small and crude, but potentially viable. We believe this act is the work of violent dissident republicans.
“This device was left on a pathway which is frequently used by members of the public, including people fishing, local boat owners, parents and children.”
THE Royal Mail is launching the UK’S first stamps with barcodes to bring dull business letters to life.
Codes will be printed on the sides of blue second class stamps from Tuesday and, once scanned with a smartphone, they will reveal data and offers relevant to the sender.
Aimed at businesses, it means companies can send consumers offers using technology similar to QR codes. For example, a bank sending out a statement could use the code to show what other accounts are available.
Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, said: “We are looking to transform the humble stamp to offer our customers even more convenient new services.”