State Duma Deputy Khubezov: asymptomatic COVID-19 patients will be given a QR code if PCR is present -codes in the presence of a positive PCR test, said the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection Dmitry Khubezov, Interfax writes.
They will not be limited by the norms of bills submitted by the government to parliament for consideration, the deputy said. This rule will not apply to those who have had COVID-19, but did not take a PCR test. They will be denied receiving QR codes.
A question with antibodies
According to Khubezov, when discussing initiatives to introduce QR codes for access to public places and transport, experts have not yet mentioned the number of antibodies that may serve as a basis for issuing a document.
Asymptomatic patients who have a confirmed diagnosis have no problems – they will also receive a QR code.
Dmitry Khubezov Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on health protection
Experts have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to introduce a unified test system in Russia. “There should be a unified test system for the determination of antibodies, and not just about anyone,” the politician explained.
He recalled that now the number of antibodies does not affect the decision on the need for vaccination. Also, when they are found, they do not give a QR code. From one antibody test, doctors cannot determine immunity to coronavirus: there may be few virus-neutralizing particles among them.
There are a lot of test systems now, and it is not clear how many antibodies are considered large, how small, and what will and what will not.
Dmitry KhubezovChairman of the State Duma Committee on Health Protection Initiatives
On November 12, the State Duma introduced bills on the introduction of QR codes for Russians over 18 years old, they were developed against the background of the deterioration in many regions of the situation with the spread of coronavirus.
So, Russians may be required to present a QR code on vaccination, a document on the transferred COVID-19 or a medical withdrawal from vaccination when visiting all public places, in particular, cafes and restaurants, as well as when visiting any public events. It is expected that the list of these places will be established by the heads of regions.
When checking QR codes, passport verification will become mandatory. If they refuse to present a document, a Russian may not be allowed even if he has a QR code. The bill will not affect the operation of pharmacies, grocery retail and stores with essential goods.
After February 1, QR codes with a negative PCR test will be issued only to Russians with a medical withdrawal from vaccination.
At the moment, in Russia, QR codes are available to three categories of people: those vaccinated against COVID-19 with domestic drugs, who have officially recovered from the coronavirus within the last six months, who have passed a PCR test for infection and received a negative result in the last 72 hours.
Another initiative concerns the introduction of a QR code system in air and rail transport; it will be possible to get on airplanes and trains in Russia only with a QR code. You will have to show it when buying a ticket.
It is assumed that according to such rules, Russians will live until June 1, 2022. When QR codes are introduced in transport and public places, a transitional period will be announced, which will last until February 1, 2022.
QR codes of a new type
A permit document is an extract from the certificate of a vaccinated citizen with a QR code. The unified form of this document was approved by the Ministry of Health of Russia and came into force.
Tatyana Golikova Deputy Prime Minister of Russia
It is possible to get a certificate on the status of a vaccinated person who has had a sickness or who has received a medical treatment on the portal of state services, at the MFC or other institutions. The current QR codes and certificates of Russians who have regional status will be automatically replaced in information systems with new certificates.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova recalled that the level of herd immunity in the country has not yet been achieved , and further prospects for the development of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia directly depend on this.