International SOS, the International Chamber of
Commerce and AOKpass Pte. Ltd. have announced the first use of ICC AOKpass, a
digitally verifiable COVID-19 health certificate for entrance to Singapore,
which will help to facilitate the safe and efficient resumption of international
travel.
On December 21, a Singapore citizen returning from Japan on a Singapore
Airlines flights used the ICC AOKpass to present a negative COVID-19 test
result at Changi Airport.
All travelers, starting with travelers from Malaysia and Indonesia, will now be
able to use ICC AOKpass to digitally authenticate their COVID-19 test results
as well as any other necessary health credentials during immigration at Changi
Airport. They will have dedicated immigration lanes at Changi Airport to
digitally verify their health credentials using the ICC AOKpass app.
“Facilitating the first digital certificate entry into Singapore
is yet another important milestone in the resumption of global travel during
the COVID-19 outbreak. We began pilot tests of the ICC AOKpass for
Singapore-based employees of International SOS in May 2020. We also worked with
Singapore company Energy Drilling Management in July 2020 to fast-track their
return to essential business travel and work over the past few months. With the
adoption of ICC AOKpass at Changi Airport, alongside our global network of
90,000 providers, we strongly believe such secure technology will be
instrumental in establishing a trusted and standardized global system to
facilitate the return to work and travel across all industries, with Singapore
at the forefront of these efforts,” says Juliana Gim, managing director of
International SOS Singapore.
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Paper certificates have been used for border crossings previously, but the
advent of digitally verifiable certifications is seen as a quantum step forward
in the security and safety of international travelers. Digital verification of
COVID-19 health status has been difficult because of the need to incorporate
testing labs, airlines and immigration processes within a single technology.
Before departure to Singapore, passengers will need to check the
Singapore SafeTravel website for travel requirements and then book a
pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test at healthcare providers that issue digital
health credentials through secure mobile apps like the ICC AOKpass.
These travelers will each receive their test result with a unique QR code in
their ICC AOKpass app, which authenticates and securely stores their COVID-19
test results.
Upon arrival at Changi Airport, travelers can use the dedicated immigration
counters to swiftly verify their health credentials by scanning the given QR
code in their ICC AOKpass app. This facilitates faster immigration checkpoint
clearance for travelers, enables more hassle-free travel and reduces risks of
crowds at the airport. At the same time, authorities will be able to combat
incidents of COVID-19 test fraud and implement a global standard for
traveling, which will further enhance efforts to ensure the safe resumption of
global travel.
In the coming months, the pilot program will progressively roll out to other
international travelers, allowing for a quicker, hassle-free travel.
“As we look towards the revival of widespread international travel and trade,
there is an urgent need for a common framework in certifying, authenticating
and securing the results of a COVID-19 test for air transport stakeholders and
local health authorities. In addition, users must trust that their data privacy
is managed well, with no risk of personal data leaks. The use of blockchain
technology is a critical step in combating the challenges of forged tests and medical
records, while enabling quick and secure verification of COVID-19 test results
for travelers to have peace of mind throughout their journey,” says Dr. Chester
Drum, co-founder of AOKpass.
To address privacy concerns, data entered into ICC AOKpass remains decentralized
at all times and does not rely on centralized data records or external systems.
Hardcopy certificates issued by medical professionals are digitized,
authenticated and then made available for efficient verification by employers,
authorities or any other third parties with no external transfer of personal
information.
Security, transparency and strict privacy preservation are enabled using
blockchain technology co-developed by AOKpass. ICC AOKpass is built on the
Ethereum public blockchain network, ensuring complete user control over
peer-to-peer sharing of COVID-19 medical compliance and personal health
information.
In addition, all medical information and health certificates are attested to by
certified medical practitioners, preventing fraud, reducing risks of in-flight
infections and rebuilding confidence in international travel.
Recognizing the need for a common framework for the resumption of international
travel and trade, ICC AOKpass is also adaptable to the specific needs of
different companies and countries – evolving to align with ongoing development
of COVID-19 serology testing methods and global best practices. For example,
the app is being used to facilitate quarantine-free flights between New York
City and Rome, through close collaboration with Delta Air Lines and Alitalia.
Since mid-December, all travelers have to present their digitally authenticated
COVID-19 test results to board quarantine-free flights between Aeroporti di
Roma and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
ICC AOKpass will also eventually allow verification for other immunization and
medical compliance records held by individuals.
*This article originally appeared on WebInTravel.