The government has officially launched a new tracking app called ‘Aarogya Setu’ on Thursday that aims to alert you if you come close to someone having coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The app has been developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeiTY) — through Public-Private Partnership under the guidance of NIC — in just over four days. It seems to have replaced the Corona Kavach app that MeiTY had brought out earlier.

How it works:

The app will detect only fresh cases and will send out alerts to only those who have been nearby the infected person.

“The App, called ‘AarogyaSetu’, joins Digital India for the health and well-being of every Indian. It will enable people to assess themselves at the risk of getting infected with the coronavirus. It will calculate this based on their interaction with others, using a cutting edge Bluetooth technology, algorithms, and artificial intelligence,” an official statement said.

User Friendly:

If a person is clinically tested positive with coronavirus infection, the mobile number of the infected person is included in the register maintained by the Health Ministry and will be updated on the app as well.

Once installed in a smartphone through an easy and user-friendly process, the app detects other devices with AarogyaSetu installed that come in the proximity of that phone. The app can then calculate the risk of infection based on sophisticated parameters if any of these contacts are tested positive.

Aarogya Setu app also has a detailed list of coronavirus helpline numbers for each state in India and there’s a self assessment test on the app which checks whether you have a chance to get the coronavirus disease unknowingly. Additionally, there is also a chatbot that can help users understand the symptoms of coronavirus and answer their queries. The app also offers rolling updates from the health ministry on the coronavirus pandemic. Those who use the app on Android smartphones also get the option to see live tweets from the Ministry of Health.

Users who want to use the app have to undergo a small registration process that just needs their mobile number.

Available for free on iOS and Android, the app is accessible in 11 languages including English, Hindi, Bangla, and Marathi and the idea behind is to reach out to users informing them about risks of infection, best practices, and relevant medical advisories. It is one of many location-based surveillance apps that have been launched by governments across the world to help with contact tracing efforts for COVID-19.

Privacy:

The App will help the government take necessary- and timely steps for assessing the risk of the spread of COVID-19 infection and ensuring isolation where required.

The app’s privacy policy makes it clear that user data will not be shared with third-parties. It clearly specifies that “Your data will be shared only with the Government of India. The app does not allow your name and mobile number to be disclosed to the public at large at any time.”

Here is everything you need to know about the Aarogya Setu app

  • To search the app on Google Play (for Android phones) and App Store (for iPhones) type ‘AarogyaSetu’ without space in between the two words.
  • Given there are many fake apps, be sure to download the correct one. The app is published by NIC and the developer name will be shown as NIC eGov Mobile Apps (for Android) and NIC for iPhones. Be very careful about downloading the correct app.
  • The Aarogya Setu uses your mobile number, Bluetooth and location data for contact tracing and predicts whether you are safe or not.
  • The app works after you register your mobile number and verify it with an OTP. There is an optional form that asks for Name, Age, Profession, and countries traveled outside in the last 30 days. Note that you can skip this form. However, if you wish to be a volunteer in the time of need then you have the option to enroll yourself as one.
  • Depending on the social graph based on the location details, the app will alert whether you fall in the low-risk or high-risk category. For the high-risk category, the app will notify you to visit a test center.
  • The Aarogya Setu app offers a detailed state-wise list of phone numbers of COVID-19 Help Centers
  • You can use the Self Assessment Test to check whether you may have a possibility of COVID-19 infection or not
  • The app alerts about instructions on self-isolation and what to do if you show symptoms
  • Aarogya Setu app is available in 11 Indian languages including English and Hindi

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