HK mulls health code similar to China to fight Covid: SCMP

HONG Kong is considering implementing a health code system similar to mainland China’s in a bid to contain Covid-19 without tightening social-distancing measures, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on Sunday (Jul 10), citing new health chief Lo Chung-mau.

Lo dismissed concerns that the proposed measure, which may require real-name registration, would be unpopular with Hong Kong people, arguing that it would enhance the freedoms of uninfected residents, the newspaper said, citing the secretary of health’s comments on a TV programme.

“If we give Covid-19 positive people freedom and let them roam the surrounding areas, those without Covid-19 will have their freedoms affected,” SCMP reported Lo as saying.

Hong Kong’s “Leave Home Safe” contact-tracing app has limitations because it does not prevent virus-positive people from accessing public areas nor does it inform residents they are entering high-risk locations, the report cited Lo as saying. 

The city on Sunday reported 2,992 new local Covid infections and 219 imported cases. BLOOMBERG