Yunnan province plan to contain coronavirus by tracking residents in public places comes under question

In the latest effort to use big data to help contain the coronavirus outbreak, a province in southwestern China is asking residents to scan a code when they enter public places, sparking debate over whether the measure is effective.

Starting Wednesday, authorities in Yunnan province require all residents to scan the code through a WeChat mini-program when they enter and leave all public places to trace those who have had close contact with anybody confirmed or suspected to have been infected.

The move has sparked criticism on social media as to the effectiveness of such a screening process, especially since not everyone owns a smartphone with the required app. A Weibo post by state media people.cn seeking public opinion on the plan received a mixed response, with some indicating support but many others commenting “I disagree.”

“There are still many elderly people who do not use smartphones,” said one Weibo user. “Once implemented, there will no doubt be congestion and queues in public places [to scan the code]. The risk of infection will be higher,” said another.

The latest move in Yunnan province is in line with the country’s efforts to contain the outbreak. Earlier this week China’s State Council backed the launch of a “close contact detector” platform with a similar purpose, based on information gathered from public transport records, including trains and flights.

The coronavirus, which is now officially called Covid-19, has spread to at least 24 countries, sickening more than 60,000 people worldwide. There have been more than 48,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in China’s Hubei province resulting in more than 1,300 deaths, although Yunnan province had only recorded 155 infections, according to figures reported on Thursday.