THE Department of Health has launched a new ‘COVIDCertNI’ app enabling users to apply for and show proof of vaccination for international travel purposes only.

The new app is to download from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The app has been developed to meet EU and WHO standards, providing all the necessary information required, and includes a secure QR code, to enable the authenticity to be verified. If you are travelling up to July 31 you can now apply for a certificate using either the existing NI Direct digital platform or alternatively you can now download the app.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: “Covid-19 has created many challenges since it first arrived on our shores last February, and our new digital tools have helped us to respond. “The COVIDCertNI App is the third new smartphone app produced by my department since last year.

“It will enable those travelling internationally to access their vaccination records and show a digital certificate.

“There have been monumental efforts to get this digital platform to this stage.”

The new app service is likely to be popular and this might cause delays or capacity problems with accessing the service.

If you encounter problems wait a while before trying again. Users are asked to only download and use the app ifthey are travelling up to the end of July.

A vaccine certificate may be required for entry into some international countries but is not a requirement for every country. Travellers should check requirements before they travel.

Concluding, the Minister said: “I urge the public to remain patient in the coming days as the new process beds in and only apply if you are travelling in the coming days/ weeks. This has been a complex process with many challenges and I commend everyone involved for getting it to this point.”

Travellers still have to adhere to the testing and isolation requirements (if appropriate) on their return to Northern Ireland.

Familiarise yourself with these requirements before you travel at www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice.

Travellers should check the latest UK Government travel advice which will give updated information on travel to individual countr ies, including any Covid-related entry requirements at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.

Latest statistics Meanwhile, cases of Coronavirus within the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area are continuing to grow with 46 new cases reported in Wednesday’s daily update from the Department of Health.

Deaths in the council area currently stand at 87, with the last death in the council area being recorded on July 18

There have been 318 cases recorded in the council area in the past seven days and the seven day case rate currently stands at 270.9 cases per 100k people.

The cases in each age bracket for the district were recorded as 112 cases in those aged 0-19, 132 in those aged 20-39, 54 cases in those aged 40-59, 15 cases in those aged 60-79 and five cases in those aged 80 and over.

From July 12-18, there were 143 cases recorded in Fermanagh’s postal districts BT74 (47), BT92 (29), BT93 (33), BT94 (34).

Some of these cases have resulted in local sports clubs stopping activity for a period and a local bar closing.

Clubs affected include Tempo Maguires GAC and Erne Gaels, businesses affected by the rise in cases include Charlie’s Bar, Enniskillen.

There are currently 17 Covid-19 patients in the South West Acute Hospital, two ofthe 17 in-patients are in the ICU. Across NI there was three new deaths recorded in the reporting period with another 1,600 new cases recorded.

There have been a total of 2,176 deaths reported in relation to the virus and a total of 152,696 cases.