Covid Recovery Certificates in Greece to Expire in 3 Months

Source: European Union, 2021 / Photographer: Yorgos Karahalis

Greece went ahead this week and shortened the validity period of the Covid-19 recovery certificate from the initial six months to three months on the guidance of the country’s committee.

The relevant amendment, submitted by the health ministry in efforts tackle the Omicron variant and increase vaccinations, sets 90 days as the validity period for Covid recovery documentation.

Unvaccinated individuals will have one month to get the jab once the recovery certificate expires. 

Greece’s Covid committee has also recommended issuing Covid recovery certificates only to those who display a positive molecular test and not a rapid test as was initially accepted.

Meanwhile, EU member states are expected to agree on limiting to nine months the duration of the EU Digital Covid Certificate used for travel, Reuters said earlier today.

EU authorities hope that the updated digital certificate rules requiring a booster dose will force member states with low vaccination rates to catch up.

Photo source: EC – Audiovisual Service/Photographer: Claudio Centonze

On Wednesday, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it was time Europe considered making vaccination against Covid-19 mandatory in view of the surge in infections across the Union. She stressed however that the final decision on obligatory inoculation was up to member states.

Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said compulsory vaccination should be “an absolute last resort” only considered when all other options have been exhausted.