Discussions about QR codes and tightening quarantine measures

In the fall of 2021, Russia faced another wave-like increase in the incidence of COVID-19. Regions reported overcrowded Covid wards, shortages of medical staff and increased ambulance wait times. Against the backdrop of the difficult situation, the government began to discuss measures aimed at additional control over visits to public places. The main topic was the system of QR codes confirming vaccination, previous illness or a recent negative test. In some regions, strict rules were introduced: without a QR code it was impossible to enter shopping centers, restaurants, cultural institutions and public events. In Moscow, the mandatory system was softer, but certain industries still worked according to similar requirements. Society received the initiatives ambiguously. Some saw QR codes as an effective way to contain the epidemic, while others considered them an excessive measure and a violation of rights. Issues of digital security, data protection and the legality of such restrictions were actively discussed on the Internet and in the media. Despite controversy, the measures helped stabilize the situation by December. Many experts noted that this fall was a turning point in the fight against the pandemic: the state moved to a more comprehensive digital control model, and society moved to a new level of adaptation to life under prolonged sanitary restrictions.