Hong Kong’s health chief said on Wednesday that authorities are holding test runs for its two-color health code system, adding that the system will soon be expanded to also cover close contacts of Covid patients.  

The government is pushing to make the city’s vaccine pass system tied to the “Leave Home Safe” contact tracing app more effective by identifying infected residents with a red QR code, barring them from public places, and giving arrivals in quarantine a yellow version, restricting their access to certain premises.  

Lo Chung-mau, the city’s health secretary, said today that authorities will soon announce details of the launch.  

He said arrivals who were given a yellow code will have their hotel quarantine shortened, whereas the yellow code will soon be expanded to cover close contact with Covid patients.  

Lo stressed that the color code is to “give those not infected more freedom” and to boost the mainland’s confidence in the city’s anti-epidemic effort through targeted strategies.  

He added that Hong Kong still upholds its prevention measures against the importation of cases, in which the hotel quarantine cut should not be seen as “lying flat”.  

The move is to make sure Hong Kong’s connectivity with the mainland and international cities, according to Lo.  

The health chief also pledged to improve the “test and hold” arrangement for arrivals at the airport.  

It is understood that under the new color code system, users who receive a red code, which indicates those who have tested positive for Covid-19 and those undergoing home quarantine, will be prohibited from entering specific high-risk venues where high-risk personnel congregate, such as hospitals and care homes for the elderly. They would also not be allowed to enter any areas where residents are allowed to take off their masks.  

A yellow code will be issued to inbound travelers who are subject to quarantine measures and have not tested positive for the coronavirus. Such users will also be barred from entering high-risk venues or participating in activities where masks can be removed.

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