China world's first to launch virus passport

Beijing : China has launched a Green Virus Passport in the form of a health certificate programme and is thought to be the world's first known "Virus Passport."
The programme includes an encrypted QR code allowing authorities of other countries to obtain health information of tourists from China.
The United States and Great Britain are among countries currently considering implementing similar permits that can act as a virus passport.
The challenge to restart travel around the world will be to share a technology that guarantees a uniform health passport system shared by most countries.
China's programme includes an encrypted QR code that allows the authorities of other countries to obtain the health information of tourists from China. 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 certificate is being rolled out "to help promote world economic recovery and facilitate cross-border travel," a foreign ministry spokesman said. However, the international health certificate is currently only available for use by Chinese citizens and it is not yet mandatory.