How did a MoH data unit deputy leak daily Covid-19 case numbers?

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Former MoH Data Unit Deputy Leaked Daily Covid-19 Case Numbers on Multiple Occasions in 2020

A former deputy lead of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) data management unit, Zhao Zheng, leaked classified Covid-19 case numbers to a WeChat group on at least 20 occasions in 2020, prior to their official public release. She had access to various internal spreadsheets containing sensitive case details, including a "master" spreadsheet with individual data and a "masterforinternaluseonly" spreadsheet used for analysis and press releases. These leaks, which began as early as March 16, 2020, also included information on cases involving foreigners and led to public agencies redirecting resources for investigations, thereby impeding Covid-19 crisis response efforts.
Access to Sensitive Data

Zhao Zheng held a position that granted her access to a shared folder on the MoH intranet containing critical documents and spreadsheets related to the ministry's Covid-19 operations. Among these were a "master" spreadsheet compiled by the case reporting team with individual case information such as age, gender, nationality, and address. She also had access to a "masterforinternaluseonly" spreadsheet, which the data management unit used for collating and analysing positive case data to produce tables and charts for daily press releases. Furthermore, individual spreadsheets containing detailed biodata and movement patterns of confirmed Covid-19 cases were accessible to her.
Method of Information Dissemination

Even when not physically present at work, Zhao would receive daily Covid-19 case numbers via a WhatsApp group chat with her department members. She then proceeded to share these figures with a WeChat group of 49 other members, who were also mothers, before the official announcement. In addition to daily case counts, Zhao occasionally shared other specific details, such as the number of cases involving foreigners. Her actions extended to playing a "guessing game" with the WeChat group members, where they would attempt to predict the daily case numbers before she revealed the actual figures.
Breach of Confidentiality Undertaking

Zhao Zheng had signed an undertaking in 2008 acknowledging that all official information acquired during her work was strictly secret and confidential, and was not to be shared with anyone outside her official duties without consent. Despite this commitment, her leaks to the WeChat group began as early as March 16, 2020. She even cautioned the group members not to disseminate the information, as she was not authorised to share it. One instance involved her accessing a government Covid-19 database using her government-issued laptop to extract confidential patient information for an individual named Tang Lin at Tang's request.
Legal Consequences and Impact

Zhao Zheng was sentenced to 18 weeks' imprisonment after pleading guilty to 12 charges under the Official Secrets Act and the Computer Misuse Act. The court noted that her actions, including the "guessing game," demonstrated a "cavalier manner" in handling sensitive data, despite the absence of nefarious motivation or personal gain. The premature release of this information had significant implications, potentially affecting markets, retailers, employers, and travellers by signalling impending restrictions. Furthermore, the leaks necessitated the redirection of resources from various public agencies to investigate their source and extent, which ultimately impeded the overall efforts to address the Covid-19 crisis.

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How did a MoH data unit deputy leak daily Covid-19 case numbers?

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