Contact tracing: China's health code offers some lessons

EVEN as the still-evolving Covid-19 situation looks to have peaked in many parts of the world, contact tracing remains crucially important to prevent further outbreaks by tracking and stopping the chains of transmission.

The debates mostly surround the balance between public safety and privacy. However, the discussion could move beyond privacy concerns, drawing on the experience in China where mobile apps have been developed to balance among the efficiency and accuracy of contact tracing and privacy protection.

Singapore has rolled out various digital platforms and solutions in response to the pandemic, of which TraceTogether and SafeEntry are two key tools. TraceTogether is a mobile app used for individuals' contact recording via Bluetooth in the phone, while SafeEntry is a check-in system to record one's visits to public places such as supermarkets and restaurants. A wearable device for contact tracing has also been distributed to the country's vulnerable seniors.