Today (April 20) marks the official start back-to-office work in our school, and it is a sign that things are becoming better in Beijing for now. Elsewhere in the city, most establishments are fully functional and restaurants welcome patrons again. In my neighborhood, meanwhile, volunteer guards still check the temperature of entering residents and visitors, and it’s been a while since the guards allow us without a quarantine pass. This is a short Q-day entry for my Pandemic Journal – about the various physical and digital quarantine passes we use here in China.
I remember our neighborhood guards started handing out this pass or 出入证 chūrù zhèng (literally “entry pass”) sometime in mid-February. At the time, many alleys and backroads were still passable, until they cordoned off the perimeters with either green nets (like the one in golf courses) or metal railings. In our community, for example, there is only one way in and out; every time we return, we need to show the quarantine pass.
So far, I have had two quarantine passes, both with my photo and stamps.
I needed to register myself — from my mobile number to passport number to unit number — to the community volunteer guards obtain the pass. At first, getting the pass was not that troublesome, even for a foreigner. When the authorities first required passes, the pandemic epicenter was still China; locals were cautious but more understanding of foreigners, in my observation. But now, I have noticed that locals keep on asking foreigners where they have been in the past three or so months. I can mix in all the way and people speak to me straight… until I respond, “Ting bu dong” (I cannot understand). As I look like a local, especially with my mask on, they think I’m just fooling around. I’ll talk about that experience in a future entry.
There was also a period that we were required to scan a QR code upon entering big establishments. Even our school has been following that method. The page that appears after scanning the code shows a quick preview of how long one has stayed in a place–meaning if that person has followed the mandatory fourteen-day self-isolation period. If that person has left a place, say, Beijing, the data (tracked by mobile networks) will show just like that, although I have never seen that happen to anyone.
I have seen chatter on WeChat saying there is also an in-app program that details if one has completed or still completing the self-isolation period. I have never tried that in-app program because there’s no need for me to do so. I’m curious to see how it works, but I feel it is so intrusive.
Anyway, my country has been requiring people to use a printed quarantine pass, allowing only one member of a household to go outside to buy supplies. That format was also used in Hubei as far as I know, except that people there could go out once every three days. I don’t know if the use of similar quarantine passes has been observed in other countries.
Going back to China, it seems to me that this method of entering communities will remain for a long time.
It’s really interesting to me to hear how this crisis is being handled elsewhere. Here in the U.S., we don’t have anything like a quarantine pass (at least not yet). The government seems to be more focused on keeping businesses closed. Individuals can mostly come and go as they please, but with all the businesses closed, people don’t have much reason to go out.
I am sharing your articles anak. With or without your permission. Mommy mo pa naman ako so far….hahahaha. Be safe.