Under the CovidCheck, people who are vaccinated, have recovered from a coronavirus infection or have a valid test result are issued a certificate with a QR code. This can be scanned and will indicate immunity or a negative test status.

This means that fully vaccinated people no longer have to show a negative test result when travelling to Luxembourg. Neither do people who have suffered from a coronavirus infection in the last six months.

Both PCR tests (validity of 72 hours) and certified rapid antigen tests (validity of 48 hours) are accepted as proof for travelling to the country, the government said in a press release on Saturday.

However, quarantine rules for travellers from the UK and India remain in place, regardless of the mode of transport with which they arrive in Luxembourg. Arrivals must notify authorities and take a test before quarantining for seven days. Only following a second negative test can they leave quarantine.

The Luxembourg rules don’t replace EU-level agreements on entry into the bloc, with restrictions for non-essential travel still in place for a raft of third countries.

The changes

The CovidCheck system also means that larger events in Luxembourg can resume. For up to 300 people, organisers can opt for distancing, masks and assigned seats, which does not require testing. Using the CovidCheck, these restrictions are lifted and food and drink can be served.

Restaurants and bars can host tables of up to 10 people outside and up to four people inside with the CovidCheck restrictions lifted, but all guests and staff must be able to show one of the certificates.

A nightly curfew was lifted on Sunday and it is no longer forbidden to drink alcohol in public. Households can welcome up to ten guests. People who are vaccinated or have had the coronavirus in the past six months no longer need to quarantine after being in contact with an infected person.

Finally, healthcare staff must undergo a rapid antigen test three times a week, unless they can provide one of the other CovidCheck certificates. External suppliers and visitors must also test upon arrival.

There are no restrictions for sports activities for groups of up to 10 people. For larger groups, one person per 10m2 can practice indoors and distances of two metres need to be respected outdoors. Again, these rules don’t apply if all participants possess a valid CovidCheck certificate.

Groups performing music together can also meet with up to 10 people without restrictions. A maximum of 50 people can play together with distancing of two metres unless everyone is CovidCheck compliant.