CRACKING THE CODE

As China recovers from Covid-19, mobile “health codes” have emerged as a technological solution to disease control and prevention.

Available through a mobile miniapp, Healthkit, the code comes in three colors indicating the user’s likelihood of contagion. It must be displayed before entering most businesses or using public transportation in China.

However, this “smart” solution has blocked many out. Recently, a Beijing man was allegedly homebound for two weeks as he was unable to sign up for Healthkit due to a rare character in his name. In Heilongjiang province, violence broke out when volunteers would not let an elderly man, who did not own a smartphone, enter a residential compound without a health code.

“Technology should be peopleoriented,” stated China City News, a state-run media outlet, noting that only 23 percent of China’s over-60 population know how to use the internet. The city of Qingdao has issued paper health cards for the elderly, and a new Healthkit update allows users to obtain a code on behalf of others.