Government asks High Court to extend Covid certificate use until Christmas

The Catalan government has requested that the High Court approve a two-week extension on the use of Covid certificates to enter bars, cafes, restaurants, gyms and care homes.

If granted, the measure would be in place until Christmas Eve, December 24, with further prolongations possible.

The government wants to keep the certificate in place as a means to curb the current rise in Covid-19 transmissions, spokesperson Patrícia Plaja said on Tuesday.

As things stand, the regulations governing the extended use of Covid passes are set to expire at midnight on Thursday night going into Friday morning, December 9.

Plaja also warned that the number of hospitalizations for Covid-19 is expected to "continue to rise" in the coming days. 

Covid-19 certificates

The EU Covid-19 certificate has been in operation since July 1, 2021, and although it was first needed only for traveling, its use has expanded over the past months.

They have been mandatory in Catalan nightclubs and some venues with indoor dance floors for several weeks, and in bars, cafes, restaurants, gyms and care homes since December 3.

Catalan News has publisehed a full guide on how to get the certificates and where they are required.

An initial attempt to widen to use of passes on November 26 was suspended after demand caused the website and app to download them to crash.

The extended use of Covid-19 certificates has led to an increase in the uptake of vaccinations. On Sunday morning, long lines formed outside the Fira de Barcelona walk-in vaccination site, which ran out of doses in under two hours.

Tarragona to help elderly

The Tarragona city council will assist elderly people who need help with downloading their Covid certificate.

Special sessions will be organized from December 10-17 in various municipal sites of the southern Catalan city.

To access this service you must be over 60 years old, live in Tarragona, and make an appointment at the office of Gent Gran Activa.

Podcast

For more on the sixth wave of coronavirus in Catalonia, including Covid certificate FAQs, travel rules, the Omicron variant and forecast for Christmas, take a listen to the podcast below.