IATA warns that paper tests for Covid-19 are open to fraud

IATA is urging governments to embrace digital platforms for Covid-19 testing as it warns that paper-based tests are vulnerable to fraudulent results. Nick Careen, the airline association’s senior VP for airport, passenger, cargo and security, said that paper-based test results were inefficient, difficult to process and can also be “easily manipulated”. He says IATA is aware of “numerous” counterfeit Covid-19 test results in multiple countries, a problem that was previously associated with faked yellow fever certificates and is “about to get worse”. While the problem is “not as widespread as one would think”, Careen says that it could become a “much larger issue” once the pandemic is brought under control as the number of health checks required by governments will “far exceed” those currently demanded for infectious diseases such as yellow fever. Careen urges governments to adopt digital solutions and points out that the IATA Travel Pass, an app that the association is currently developing, will help passengers “easily and securely manage their travel in line with government requirements”. “Digital certifications need to become a mandate, we cannot continue to operate in the fashion that we have globally with paper – this is just not sustainable,” he adds. <br/>