The Government announced today (April 19) the arrangement to download the recovery record QR code for persons infected with COVID-19 (recovered persons), and implementation details in connection with the commencement of the second stage of Vaccine Pass vaccination requirements on April 30. For the Vaccine Pass vaccination requirements and implementation arrangements, please refer to the press release issued on March 20 (www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202203/20/P2022032000438.htm) and the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/vaccine-pass.html).
Arrangement to download recovery record QR code
———————————————————-
To facilitate the use of the Vaccine Pass by recovered persons, starting from today, they may download the recovery record QR code through the COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System (www.evt.gov.hk). Recovered persons can also choose to download the recovery record QR code using "iAM Smart" or the latest version of "eHealth" mobile applications.
Persons who download the recovery record QR code via the aforementioned website are required to provide the number and date of issue of their Hong Kong identity card, and month of discharge from hospital or positive test result for identification. Persons who hold only a birth certificate or other identity documents need to provide the number of their birth certificate or the relevant identity document, date of birth and month of discharge from hospital or positive test result for downloading the recovery record QR code.
Starting today, isolation orders issued by the Department of Health (DH) also include the recovery record QR code.
The recovery record QR code is valid within 180 days (i.e. six months) from the date of recovery. During the period, recovered persons may carry with them or present the recovery record QR code as a substitute for the vaccination record to enter specified premises under Vaccine Pass. Recovered persons may also save the recovery record QR code in the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application to facilitate scanning when entering a Vaccine Pass premises subject to active checking.
If the recovered persons had received vaccination, they may also download the updated vaccination record QR code with their recovery status incorporated through the "iAM Smart" or "eHealth" mobile applications. Recovered persons who had received two or three doses of vaccine are not required to receive additional doses of vaccine to comply with the Vaccine Pass requirement. As for recovered persons who had not been vaccinated or who had only received one dose of vaccine, they are required to receive the required dosage of vaccine during the validity period of the recovery record QR code, and use the vaccination record QR code with their recovery status incorporated in order to continue to comply with the Vaccine Pass requirement.
As the Government previously announced, as a transitional measure before June 30, recovered persons may still present the relevant proof of recovery or infection for Vaccine Pass purposes (Note). Subsequently, they are required to use the recovery record QR code, or the vaccination record QR code with their recovery status incorporated.
Persons who are unsure if they had a previous COVID-19 infection or persons who do not have their recovery record in the DH's system
——————————————————————————————————————–
According to the updated consensus interim recommendations published by the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection of the DH joined by the Chief Executive's expert advisory panel on April 7, persons who are unsure if they had a previous COVID-19 infection should receive COVID-19 vaccine in the same manner as uninfected persons.
Under the Vaccine Pass arrangement, persons who are unsure if they had a previous COVID-19 infection or persons who do not have their recovery record in the DH's system are required to follow the relevant vaccination requirements applicable to uninfected persons. In other words, relevant persons are required to receive the vaccine dosage applicable to uninfected persons in time in accordance with their age groups to comply with the Vaccine Pass requirement. Relevant persons may also refer to experts' opinion that recovered persons may receive their next dose of vaccine at least 28 days after recovery.
The DH has set up a hotline (2569 5777) for enquiries by members of the public on questions relating to their recovery record in the Government's system.
Non-local recovery record
——————————
Currently, persons confirmed to be infected and recovered in places outside Hong Kong may use the infection or recovery record issued or recognised by the relevant health authorities of the place concerned to enter Vaccine Pass premises. The Government will announce the declaration arrangements for non-local recovery records later with a view to providing further convenience to these persons for entering Vaccine Pass premises.
Downloading the updated vaccination record QR code for adolescents aged 12 to 17
—————————————————————————————–
In view of the different vaccination requirements applicable to adolescents aged 12 to 17 and persons aged 18 or above under the second stage of the Vaccine Pass which will come into effect on April 30, the Government has enhanced the system since April 1 with the date of birth added to the vaccination record QR code for identification.
If adolescents aged 12 to 17 have obtained their vaccination record on or after April 1, the QR code of the record should include their date of birth. They are not required to download the updated vaccination record again. As for adolescents aged 12 to 17 who have received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine but will still be within six months after vaccination on or after April 30, they may download the updated vaccination record QR code with the date of birth incorporated through the "iAM Smart" or "eHealth" mobile applications starting from today. Members of the public are encouraged to use electronic means to update the record as far as feasible. If necessary, relevant persons may bring along with them the original copy of their identity documents to any Community Vaccination Centre to re-print the vaccination record bearing a QR code. Before they are able to use the updated QR code, adolescents aged 12 to 17 may also present identification documents showing their date of birth to the person-in-charge on entering Vaccine Pass premises subject to active checking.
Update of "LeaveHomeSafe", "eHealth" and QR Code Verification Scanner mobile applications
———————————————————————————————————
With the launch of the recovery record QR code and the commencement of the second stage of the Vaccine Pass on April 30, the Government has also updated the "LeaveHomeSafe", "eHealth" and QR Code Verification Scanner mobile applications to facilitate the display of the compliance of the user with the vaccination requirement of the second stage, and support the use of the recovery record QR code by citizens, and checking by the person-in-charge of the premises.
In the latest 3.2.0 version of the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application, members of the public may store the electronic vaccination record, Medical Exemption Certificate and recovery record QR code at the same time and preset one of them as the default Vaccine Pass. Members of the public only need to save the latest relevant QR code to the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application to facilitate scanning on entering Vaccine Pass premises subject to active checking. Corresponding system enhancements will also be made to the "eHealth" mobile application to enable the downloading of the electronic vaccination record, Medical Exemption Certificate and recovery record QR code.
As for the updated version (4.3.0) of the QR Code Verification Scanner, the mobile application can record the electronic vaccination record, Medical Exemption Certificate and recovery record QR code of visitors. To assist the person-in-charge of the premises to check and record the Vaccine Pass for contact tracing purposes, a function to detect updates of the application automatically was added in the new version of the application. The person-in-charge will be alerted in a timely manner of any updates so that they can conduct checks on the QR code in accordance with the latest Vaccine Pass requirement, including whether the recovery record QR code is valid and whether the vaccination record QR code with recovery status incorporated is compliant with the requirement. The application has also added a function to facilitate the person-in-charge of the premises to register the information of their mobile phones used for the QR Code Verification Scanner. The person-in-charge of the premises subject to active checking is required to download the latest version of the QR Code Verification Scanner as soon as possible.
"Vaccination is highly effective in preventing severe cases or deaths from COVID-19. The implementation of the Vaccine Pass arrangement aims to raise the vaccination rate, with a view to strengthening the immune barrier against the epidemic and resuming Hong Kong people's normal lives as soon as possible. We strongly appeal to members of the public who have not been vaccinated, especially senior citizens, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a much higher fatality risk after COVID-19 infection, to get vaccinated with no delay for the sake of their health. Members of the public who are currently eligible for a third or fourth dose should also get the dose as soon as possible," a Government spokesman said.
Note: During the transitional period until June 30, recovered persons may use the relevant proof of recovery or infection (including discharge letter, SMS/electronic/paper record of positive nucleic acid test result issued by the Government or private laboratories recognised under the Laboratory Recognition Scheme of the DH, SMS/electronic record of completed declaration on DH's "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test", isolation order/record of persons tested positive for COVID-19 issued by the DH, and other recovery records issued by the Government or the Hospital Authority, but excluding a photograph showing a positive rapid antigen test result) to enter Vaccine Pass premises. After the transitional period, recovered persons are required to use the recovery record QR code, or receive vaccination in accordance with the relevant requirement under Vaccine Pass and use the vaccination record QR code with their recovery status incorporated to enter Vaccine Pass premises.
Follow this news feed: East Asia