Health code will protect the uninfected: Lo Chung-mau
Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau on Monday said authorities are hoping to introduce a ‘health code’ system here as soon as possible, by adding the function to the existing LeaveHomeSafe app. Speaking on an RTHK radio programme, Lo said the change would help ensure that Covid-19 patients who are isolating at home don’t flout requirements and go out spreading the virus in the community. “People who are not infected or are not at risk can rest assured that those infected would not be roaming the streets, or even going to high-risk places like hospitals or care homes and posing danger to the elderly,” he said.  “Sometimes people confuse being selfish with freedom. People who are infected should not have the freedom to casually move about and affect our health,” he stressed.  Lo added that just requiring people under monitoring to wear a wristband is not adequate, given previous reports of some people removing their devices before the end of their isolation period. The health minister had said over the weekend that authorities were taking reference from the health code systems used in the mainland and Macau, where people with green QR codes are considered low-risk, while those with yellow or red codes are at high risk of having been infected. He also said it was important that users must register their real names under this system to ensure that it’s effective in preventing infections. Elaborating on the plans further on Monday, Lo said the government will consider issuing a yellow code for inbound travellers placed under health observation, who are allowed to leave their homes but who should avoid high-risk places such as restaurants. The health chief emphasised that the anticipated change is aimed at identifying those infected, not tracking them.  Meanwhile, Lo also apologised on behalf of the government after long queues emerged at the weekend at Shenzhen Bay Port, as people rushed to cross the border to the mainland in the morning. Lo said while the quota for quarantine hotel rooms were increased, the arrangement for PCR tests at the checkpoint were not changed, leading to the long queues. The minister said authorities would introduce a new booking system this week for travelers to make appointments for the required tests in advance, so they won’t have to queue up for long hours at the checkpoint.