The CovidCheck application is upgraded to 2G+. (Photo: Paperjam)

The CovidCheck application is upgraded to 2G+. (Photo: Paperjam)

The digitalisation ministry announced an update of its CovidCheck application. It can now differentiate between customers who have received their booster shot and those who have not. For the latter, who were tested in establishments under 2G+, the verification of the test remains, however, partly manual.

Two days after the , the application for checking QR codes was updated on Monday 27 December. As a reminder, since Saturday 25, a vaccination certificate is no longer sufficient to go to restaurants, events or cultural venues. In addition to being vaccinated or recovered, customers must show the result of a valid negative test (either a PCR test less than 48 hours old or a certified antigenic test less than 24 hours old) or perform a self-test on the spot. Only those who have received their booster shot are exempt.

Read the certificate, then scan it

The CovidCheck application had already with the addition of a 2G tab earlier this month. Now a 2G+ tab has been added. After scanning the QR code, there are three possible outcomes: a green screen if the person has received their booster shot--in which case no test is needed, a red screen if the presented certificate is not valid or if it is the result of a test and not of a vaccination, which therefore does not allow entry. Third possibility: an orange screen, in the case of a valid recovery certificate or primary vaccination, but without a booster. The person in this situation must perform a self-test on the spot or show a test certificate. Here, the verification system seems less suitable. In its and tutorial, the Ministry of Digitalisation advises to switch back to the 3G tab to check the QR code of the person's test.

However, it is possible to pass off one's vaccination certificate as a negative test since the 3G tab does not differentiate between the two and simply indicates whether it is valid or not. When questioned, the Ministry of Digitalisation stated that “the person checking must also verify that the result is that of a test”. Before scanning this second QR code, it is therefore necessary to read the certificate on which it is found. The ministry also reminds us of the need to ask the customer for their identity document to check that the name is identical to the one displayed by the application. For those who have not activated the automatic update, they can do so by visiting the App Store or the Google Play Store.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.