BEIJING: China has launched a health certificate program for domestic travelers, leading the world in plans for so-called virus passports.
The digital certificates, which show a user’s vaccination status and virus test results, are available for Chinese residents via a program on the Chinese social media platform WeChat that was launched on Monday.
The certificate is being rolled out “to assist promote world economic recovery and facilitate cross-border travel,” a foreign ministry spokesman stated.
However, the international health certificate is currently solely available for use by Chinese citizens and it isn’t yet mandatory.
The certificate, which is also available in paper form, is thought to be the world’s first known “virus passport”.
America and Britain are among nations at present considering implementing similar permits.
The European Union is also working on a vaccine “green pass” that would allow citizens to travel between member nations and abroad.
China’s program includes an encrypted QR code that allows every nation to obtain travelers’ health info, 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 –Â synonymous with good health – if a user has not been in close contact with a confirmed case or has not traveled to a virus hotspot.
But the system has sparked privacy concerns and fears it marks an expansion of government surveillance.
