Using QR codes for medical declaration is one of the notable information technology (IT) applications that Da Nang has deployed in an effective manner in the current fight against COVID-19 waves. Not only does this move help save time, human resources and limit direct interpersonal contact, but it also support the city to switch from a “defensive” to an “offensive” mode in the virus containment journey.

Scanning QR codes helps effectively implement COVID-19 prevention and control missions. A man is seen scanning non-contact QR codes available at the Da Nang Software Park. Photo courtesy of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications

Effective and convenient tool

At 5:00 pm on June 2, a COVID-19 prevention checkpoint set up at the end of Tran Dai Nghia Street in Ngu Hanh Son District was quite crowded with road users, mostly Da Nang residents working in neighbouring Quang Nam Province on their way home.

Second Lieutenant Nguyen Van Thanh from the Hoa Hai Ward Traffic Police said that, on average, there are about 1,000 - 2,000 vehicles passing through this checkpoint every day.

In recent days, functional forces staffing checkpoints set up at the Da Nang entrances has promoted the deployment of highly-convenient apps for managing those who enter and leave the city.

Instead of filling out health declaration forms as previously, those who enter or leave Da Nang through checkpoints are advised to declare their health conditions through online apps so that the municipal Health Department can find it easier to manage entries and exits for coronavirus preventive move.

In particular, road users passing through checkpoints can scan QR codes available there via their smart phones to access medical declaration links. They will then receive a message containing another QR codes for the confirmation of their already-completed declarations. Afterwards, checkpoints’ staff will be in charge of scanning these QR codes see if they are still valid.

In another way, road users can access the Danang SmartCity app, the Zalo of the city’s switchboard 1022 or  https://bcdh.danang.gov.vn/web/guest/khai-bao to make e-medical declarations.

For the elderly who are unfamiliar with the use of smartphones, functional forces and volunteers on duty at checkpoints are willing to enthusiastically support them.

Meanwhile, local shoppers are highly recommended to use QR code entry cards to be admitted to wet markets. This is a new solution named the eTicket-Da Nang app with the aim of manage entries and exits there.

Market-goers can save QR codes on their smart phones, and showed them to guards staffing at markets for scanning. In reality, QR code scanning procedures are always done quickly by guards here.

“The use of QR code entry cards to traditional markets is very highly convenient to market-goers. We don't need to worry about the possibility of losing our paper entry cards. This initiative help save time for both guards and market-goers.”, said a shopper.

Functional forces support road users to make electronic medical declarations and scan QR codes at a checkpoint on Tran Dai Nghia Street, Ngu Hanh Son District. Photo: K.NINH

‘Made-in-Da Nang’ automatic QR code scanner

In early June, arrivals to the Da Nang Administrative Centre and the Da Nang Software Park experienced an automatic QR code scanning box-shaped device.

By just putting the image of the QR code taken by the smart phone into the ‘box’, all the data stored in the code will be automatically transferred to the Da Nang Data Centre under the municipal Department of Information and Communications. 

Thanks to the non-contact feature, this device saves manpower, easily operates around the clock, and especially, limits the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

It is known that this unique product was designed and built up by the Da Nang Port in collaboration with the Da Nang Public Services Information Centre under the Department of Information and Communications.

Till date, such a ‘boxes’ have been provided for such venues as COVID-19 prevention checkpoints at the city’s entrances, the Da Nang Administrative Centre, the Software Park, Hi-Tech Park and Con Market.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Thach, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Information and Communications, till date, medical declarations combined with access control via QR codes have been applied by about 2,500 agencies and organisations across the city, the majority of which are hospitals, medical centres, clinics, multi-user buildings, students’ dormitory, hotels, and accommodation establishments.

Reporting by KHANG NINH – Translating by A.T