Early release for new virus tracing app
The Government’s new coronavirus contract tracing app became available to download yesterday – a day earlier than it’s official launch date.
The app, called NZ Covid Tracer, was due to launch today but smartphone users were able to access the app last night. It’s not clear why it was available early.
The app allows users to scan QR codes at businesses, public buildings and other organisations to keep track of where they have been, in case the information is needed for coronavirus contact tracing.
Users can also log contact information so the National Close Contact Service can get in touch, the app’s description states.
Information will be stored for
31 days and then automatically deleted, according to the description.
‘‘By signing up to this app, you’re helping keep yourself and your family safer and supporting New Zealand to stop the spread of
Covid-19.
‘‘This will ensure we can all return to doing the things we enjoy as soon as possible,’’ Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the directorgeneral of health, said in a quote on the website linked to the app.
When announcing the app on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern described it as a digital diary, to help aid our manual contact tracing efforts.
She said that it would ensure national consistency.
The Ministry of Health has worked with the Privacy Commission and independent security experts to ensure data is secure.
The app is an interim solution, and other technological contact tracing solutions are being developed, similar to what has been used overseas.
Singapore has been using a bluetooth app called TraceTogether, which logs people within a two-metre distance of each other, and Australia is using a similar app called Covidsafe.