Govt launches contact tracing app to check Covid-19 spread

The government has launched a contact tracing app on a trial basis to warn users if they've been in close contact with a person who has tested positive for coronavirus, in a bid to contain the spread of the deadly virus.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak launched the beta version of app -- “Corona Tracer BD” -- during a virtual ceremony on Thursday.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR); Access to Information (a2i), Skill Development for Mobile Game and Application of the ICT Division, and private sector stakeholder Shohoz jointly worked to develop the app under an initiative of the ICT Division.

To use the app, a mobile phone has to have Internet connection and the device’s Bluetooth and location features have to be activated. Android users can download the app from Google's Play Store. It can be downloaded from here.

The app will soon be available on Apple's App Store too.

South Korea and Singapore were among the first countries that rolled out such apps to trace infected persons and prepare a risky zone.

nh/at