English
Girona becomes first city to implement ICC AOKpass pilot scheme to safely re-open its economy
The city of Girona will utilise ICC AOKpass in a pilot scheme to digitise COVID-19 antigen test results and safely reopen its economy in the age of the pandemic.
The pilot scheme, which runs from 22 February until the end of March 2021, will allow users to present a digitally authenticated COVID-19 negative test result to gain entry into public exhibitions, business events, restaurants, and football matches.
The pilot scheme, known as “Opening Girona,” was developed by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International SOS, and the Catalonian Blockchain Centre with local support from the government of Girona, the University of Girona, the Barcelona and Girona Chambers of Commerce, ICC Spain and the Department of Digital Policies of the Catalonian Government.
ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said: “By implementing ICC AOKpass in close collaboration with the Catalonian Blockchain Centre, ICC continues to operationalise practical tools to protect lives and livelihoods. We also see this pilot as a case study in support of the Spanish initiative at the OECD to develop an International Framework for Safe International Mobility. I trust that this pilot will successfully engage Girona’s citizens. We welcome Opening Girona as a pioneering project and look forward to working with Girona’s citizens, business leaders and policymakers to safely reopen the local economy.”
Arnaud Vaissié, CEO, Chairman and Co-founder, International SOS, commented, “This is a great step forward by Girona city to protect its people, and those visiting the region. The innovative use of ICC AOKpass could be a key aspect in opening up the economy, helping to restore confidence locally and for business and leisure travellers alike.”
Backed by the Catalan Professional Association of Pharmacists, this pilot scheme will standardise health protocols and safely reopen suffering sectors of the local economy, including restaurants and other small and medium sized enterprises. Utilising a secure blockchain ledger, ICC AOKpass allows users to safely present their medical records to business owners and government administrations in the form of a QR-code without comprising their personal medical data.
The pilot scheme has already received support from several key actors in the regional economy, including Girona’s local football club, FC Girona, and the El Celler de Can Roca, one of the only three-star Michelin restaurants in Catalonia. As part of the pilot scheme, FC Girona, a club competing in the second division of the Spanish football league, will use ICC AOKpass to admit supporters into the club’s 11,000 capacity-stadium. Other sectors of the Girona economy, including the Girona–Costa Brava Airport, have discussed utilising AOKpass to safely reopen travel routes in the age of COVID-19.
Opening Girona is the latest implementation of AOKpass and one of several pilot schemes operating around the world. ICC AOKpass solution is actively expanding deployment as part of a coordinated global response to the pandemic, utilising secure technological solutions to support a safer and more efficient reopening of local economies.
Notes to Editors
About the International SOS Group of Companies
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