CovidPass was developed by Mustapha Mokass, one of the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders (YGL). It involves other YGLs across all continents, including Muna AbuSulayman and Peggy Liu. The app uses blockchain technology to store encrypted data from individual blood tests, allowing users to prove that they have tested negative for Covid-19.

Unlike contact tracing apps, CovidPass will not track its users’ locations and movements. Non-mandatory contact tracing apps have met with only limited success so far due to privacy concerns. Even Germany, which is regarded as one of the most successful nations in rolling out its voluntary app, currently has only 16 million users out of 83 million citizens. Experts say at least half the population needs to use a contact tracing app to make it effective in fighting the virus.

Meanwhile, governments are faced with a variety of different testing regimes to validate the health of travellers.

“This isn’t enough to reassure tourists or health authorities", said Mokass. Mokass hopes his app, which is launching in September, will become a standardised solution for airlines, airports and border agencies, and eliminate quarantine for healthy travellers. CovidPass could also allow hotels, cinemas, theatres, sporting- and concert venues to reopen safely.

Another possible use would be to help restart the worldwide conference and exhibition industry, which has contracted by 60 per cent, at a cost of US$180 billion in lost revenues and impacting 1.9 million jobs, according to the industry’s global association, UFI.

Additionally, CovidPass has committed to mandatory carbon offsetting for each flight passenger, to preserve the environmental benefits of reduced air travel during the crisis.