Biometric IDs can be 'gamechanger' in coronavirus antibody tests, vaccine

An Impoverished man gives his finger print on a biometric machine after purchasing food ration in Prayagraj, India, April 2. Digital identity systems are already in use in many countries, linking biometric data such as fingerprints and iris scans to a unique digital code, allowing for remote identification. — AP

BANGKOK: As countries begin to lift coronavirus lockdowns, biometric identification can help verify those who have already had the infection, and ensure that the vulnerable get the vaccine when it is launched, health and technology experts said.

Confirmed cases of Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, total more than 1.4 million, with about 82,000 deaths worldwide, according to a Reuters tally.