COVID-19 Tracking App: How Does it Work?

COVID-19 Tracking App: How Does it Work?

Published June 30th, 2020 - 07:00 GMT

Highlights

The technology works in conjunction with participating apps health authorities of a particular country.

If you recently got a broadcast message on social media warning you about a coronavirus tracker that has been installed into your phone, then you need to understand the meaning behind the alert.

Google and Apple have introduced a coronavirus contact tracing technology to aid in identifying whether a user has been exposed to someone with the disease. Called the COVID-19 exposure notifications, the technology works in conjunction with participating apps health authorities of a particular country.

Where to find it on your smartphone?

>Apple users will find it under 'settings', 'privacy', then 'health'.

>Android users will find it under 'settings' then 'Google'.

How to install?

To use the system, download the public health authority's app, it may or may not be available in your country.

How does it work?

Once you turn on the exposure notifications within the app from your region's government public health authority, your phone will share 'random IDs' with other nearby phones that also have turned on the same. Through the day, your phone and the devices around you will exchange random IDs. When your phone detects a random ID from another device, it