Poor, digitally illiterate elderly Hongkongers to face difficulties using new health code system for identifying coronavirus cases: concern groups

Concern groups say elderly residents will struggle to navigate new dual-colour coded system to be introduced as upgrade to ‘Leave Home Safe’ app. Many older residents do not own smartphones, according to Sze Lai-shan, deputy director of the Society for Community Organisation. — SCMP

Elderly Hongkongers who are poor and digitally illiterate will face difficulties using a new health code system for identifying coronavirus-positive patients, concern groups have warned, as more than one in four such residents still do not own smartphones.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau on Monday revealed the government would adopt the system, a new feature to be added to the city’s “Leave Home Safe” Covid-19 risk-exposure app, under which infected residents quarantining at home will be issued a red health code.