BEIJING – 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 Covid-19 vaccination status and test results, is available for citizens via a programme on Chinese social media platform WeChat that was launched yesterday.
The certificate is being rolled out “to help promote world economic recovery and facilitate cross-border travel”, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman.
However, the international health certificate is currently available for use by Chinese citizens only, and 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 the countries currently considering implementing similar permits.
The European Union is working on a vaccine “green pass” that will allow citizens to travel between member countries and abroad.
China’s programme includes an encrypted QR code that allows each country to obtain a traveller’s health information, reported state media agency Xinhua yesterday.
“QR health codes” within WeChat and other Chinese smartphone apps are already required to gain entry to domestic transport and many public spaces in the country.
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 that it marks an expansion of government surveillance. – AFP, March 9, 2021
