The National Extraordinary Public Health Commission’s decision that introduces COVID-19 certificate for the visitors of the entities of the hospitality industry came into force on October 1. Representatives of the power consider the measure is a proportional reaction to the red alerts, but some of the experts are skeptical about its proper implementation.

Under the decision, the entities of the hospitality industry in the territorial-administrative units that are under red alert, including the municipalities of Chisinau and Bălți, as from October 1 will ask for a COVID-19 certificate on entrance if they want to work at full capacity. The COVID-19 certificate is either the vaccine certificate or the negative test result or a document showing the presence of antibodies.

International public health expert Ala Tocarciuc expressed her skepticism about such a requirement. 

“The risk that these provisions will not be respected is very great. Since the start of the pandemic, the measures have been contradictory and inconsistent. The level of responsibility should be raised by communication. When you introduce a ban on entry in the absence of vaccine certificates, there should be control instruments. We do not have a universal system that would verify these certificates,” Ala Tocarciuc stated in the program “Black Box” on TV8 channel.

For his part, doctor Adrian Belyi, deputy head of the Parliament’s commission on social protection, health and family, said no anti-COVID-19 measure imposed by the authorities will produce results if the citizens’ level of responsibility is low.

“The certificate can be downloaded on the telephone and can be easily carried. Furthermore, with a QR code scanner, the person can be identified. The managers of the hospitality industry have the same technical possibilities as the police. However, there is a safety barrier. It is painful, but the reaction in case of a red alert should be proportional or we will pay with the death of our citizens. Even if there is responsibility at other levels, the measure will not have any effect if there is no personal responsibility,” noted PAS MP Adrian Belyi.

Under the National Extraordinary Public Health Commission’s decision, the COVID-19 certificate from today is mandatory also for invitees to wedding and birthday parties and to baptizing ceremonies. These events can be attended by at most 100 persons in closed areas or 150 persons in open areas.