Scan before you squat: BJ pilots health code in public toilets

Public loos, possibly the only place we can think of where it’s socially accepted to dodge the fuss of unlocking a phone and scanning a health code because of, well, nature calls, seems to be the latest target by the city's officials. 

In the wake of the recent incident where an unfortunate toilet visit led to around 40 local infections, Beijing's health authorities are tightening health control in public restrooms, which have long been flying under the radar as a potential risk for cross-infection. 

Leaving no stone unturned in the tracing and tracking of cases, the city will now implement health codes in public restrooms and urge the masses to comply to scan first before entry. A pilot programme has already begun today to install health codes in 113 facilities in Dongcheng, where sanitation workers are placed on-site as extra reinforcement, according to Beijing Youth Daily. 

Unsurprisingly, the measure has received a fair bit of pushback online, with some annoyed at the extra wait of scanning when disaster strikes and one needs to hit the can, and others questioning 'can I not even sh*t without handing over my data?'.

However for now, with cases still on the rise, it's probably wise to comply and do the responsible thing for yourself (and others). Keep a phone (and mask) on you when going to the loo in public, just in case, because it's a desperate time for desperate measures, alas.

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