New Delhi: The Central government has launched a dedicated coronavirus tracking app called Aarogya Setu, which will use a person’s smartphone’s location data and Bluetooth to check if he/she has been near a COVID-19 infected person or not.
Earlier, the government had launched the MyGov app to spread awareness about the coronavirus outbreak.
The new app will determine if the user is at risk by looking through a database of known cases across India, according to a report in Hindustan Times.
While the smartphone’s location data is used to determine where exactly the person is, the app uses Bluetooth connectivity to tell the user if he/she has been within 6-feet proximity from an infected person.
Based on this, the app shows if the user is at “high risk” or not. In case a person is in a high risk area, the app advises him/her to go for a test and call the toll-free number 1075 to schedule an appointment at a nearby testing centre.
In addition, the Aarogya Setu app also suggests tips on preventing oneself from getting coronavirus.
The app even shares an user’s data with the government in case he/she has tested positive for COVID-19 or have been in contact with an infected person. However, the app’s privacy policy adds that the data is not shared with third-party users.
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