QR codes for contact tracing to be placed in establishments, PUVs

Light Rail Transit Line 1  (GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)

MANILA, Philippines — Quick response (QR) codes will be made available in establishments such as malls, banks and restaurants along with public transportation units to further enhance contact tracing of persons possibly exposed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Testing czar and deputy implementer of the National Task Force on COVID-19 Vince Dizon said that this will help veer away from the manual recording of the public’s information which may even cause possible transmission of the virus.

“Pagkapasok mo sa isang mall, kailangan mo lang gamitin ang iyong camera sa iyong cellphone, kunan ng QR code and then ididirect ka na niya sa StaySafe,” Dizon said Thursday in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.

(When you enter a mall, you just need to use the camera of your phone and take a photo of the QR code and this will direct you to StaySafe.)

“Magagawa mo na magregister at ibigay ang iyong detalye para macontact trace ng mga establishments at ng integrated system,” he added.

(You will be able to register and give your information for contact tracing to the establishments and the integrated system.)

Dizon said public utility buses and all Light Railway Transit stations will also have QR codes so that commuters can be contacted, if necessary.

Asked if this will also be implemented in jeepneys and tricycles, Dizon said the Department of Transportation is still in talks on how to widely utilize the app for all modes of transportation.

“Ideally, dapat sa lahat, every public facility lalo na sa public transport ay dapat meron [QR codes],” Dizon said.

(Ideally, all public facilities especially public transportation should have QR codes.)

Dizon also assured that data entered into the application will only be accessed by the government, manned by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Previously, StaySafe.ph developed by Multisys Technologies Crop. admitted it was met with trust issues on handling data and doubts of its capability to do contact tracing.

But the government allayed fears on StaySafe.ph, saying that it will own the data coming from the application. 

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