ZCZC
BFF-27
HEALTH-VIRUS-CHINA
China launches virus passport
BEIJING, March 9, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – China has launched a health certificate
programme for domestic travellers, leading the world in plans for so-called
virus passports.
The digital certificate, which shows a user’s vaccination status and virus
test results, is available for Chinese citizens via a programme on Chinese
social media platform WeChat that was launched on Monday.
The certificate is being rolled out “to help promote world economic
recovery and facilitate cross-border travel,” a foreign ministry spokesman
said.
However the international health certificate is currently only available
for use by Chinese citizens and it is not yet mandatory.
The certificate, which is also available in paper form, is thought to be
the world’s first known “virus passport”. The United States and Britain are
among countries currently considering implementing similar permits.
The European Union is also working on a vaccine “green pass” that would
allow citizens to travel between member countries and abroad.
China’s programme includes an encrypted QR code that allows each country
to obtain a travellers’ health information, state media agency Xinhua
reported Monday.
“QR health codes” within WeChat and other Chinese smartphone apps are
already required to gain entry to domestic transport and many public spaces
in China.
The apps track a user’s location and produce a “green” code — synonymous
with good health — if a user has not been in close contact with a confirmed
case or has not travelled to a virus hotspot.
But the system has sparked privacy concerns and fears it marks an
expansion of government surveillance.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1234 hrs