Contact tracing app to be out sooner than expected: A-G

Contact tracing app – CAREFiji could be available as early as next week, says Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

He said the app was a critical tool in Fiji’s bid to be included in the Australia and New Zealand travel bubble.

The Trans-Tasman bubble, which permits travel between Australia and New Zealand, is expected to start in July.

Many Pacific Island nations including Fiji have made nudges to be included in this bubble.

For Fiji, this could possibly reignite its economic comeback.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said certification from Apple had been given and all that was awaited was certification from Google for Android users.

He said there would be an announcement soon.

“It is critically important for us to have that because it would be an indication to our bubble partners, would be bubble partners, that Fiji is geared up for that,” he said.

“People feel safe to come to Fiji too. Recent studies have shown that higher the percentage of the population that has the contact tracing app, the more people feel confident. “And then you are able to track people down in terms of those exposed to COVID-19.”

Fiji was also working to be included in Singapore’s ‘green lane’. This was the Singaporean version of the travel bubble. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said this was important because Singapore was an important port in terms of trade.

He said Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama would be making announcements soon.