Radar Covid is on its way
Valencia begins gradual implementation of mobile phone app
Valencia region begins testing national mobile phone app
RADAR COVID, the mobile phone application ( app) sanctioned by the ministry of health to help users detect their exposure to the virus, has been launched on a trial basis in the Valencia region this week.
The regional government is testing 100 codes ( users) before opening the app to all mobile phone owners in the region.
Regional health councillor Ana Barceló this week said her department has been ' ironing out' certain aspects of the app and the testing period this week will prove its efficiency.
Sra Barceló said the app trial in the region will study how efficient it is and, if it complements the tasks currently being carried out by ' tracers' - staff contacting by phone those who have been in contact with a person who has tested positive for Covid- 19.
She stated that as soon as the testing ( already underway) has been completed satisfactorily, the app would be open to all residents in the region to use.
Radar Covid can currently
been downloaded on Playstore in Spain, but it requires an activation code in order to run. These codes will be given out once the region tests are completed.
The app is now fully functional in seven Spanish regions ( Murcia, Andalucia, Canaries, Baleares, Cantabria, Navarra and Castilla y León)
The government expects the
app to be operational in all of Spain by October.
In Murcia, the system has been in operation since August 26 according to the ministry, however, recently the regional government expressed its had doubts over its efficiency as only five codes for positive tested users have been given out, when the daily figure of new cases is around 300.
How it works
Once you download the app, it anonymously indicates the contact you have had with those who have tested positive for Covid- 19 in the past 14 days.
It uses the mobile phone Bluetooth system to locate nearby patients ( if a user has their Bluetooth option switched- off, the app will give an error message).
When a person is tested positive, they have to type in a 12- digit number that the testing centre will provide them with in order to ' tell' the system anonymously. In these cases, it will also send a message out to those who have been in contact with the patient in the past 14 days.
Radar Covid does not request personal details such as name, phone number or email address.