SwissCovid is an app that uses the API developed by Google and Apple to track people who have tested positive for COVID-19. With this tool, the Swiss government intends to keep track of the spread of the epidemic in this European country with as much precision as possible using citizens' own phones.
The way SwissCovid works is simple. The app resembles other similar tools like Aarogya Setu and TraceTogether, which are being used in India and Singapore. When a person voluntarily registers in the app, an anonymous code will be generated and transmitted using Bluetooth technology. This way, if you're near a person with the disease for a few minutes, you'll receive a notification and will be encouraged to contact health authorities and follow instructions.
Furthermore, each one of the carriers of the virus are also free to authorize if they want to anonymously give their information to health authorities. The idea is to help discover where the main hot spots of the virus are located within the country. Plus, it makes it much easier to alert people when they've come into contact with a person with COVID-19 and did not follow social distance protocols.
SwissCovid offers the latest technology using mobile devices as a way to detect and prevent the spread of COVID-19. At all times, it requires the users' consent in order to access their health information and location. It's also worth noting that the information is deleted every 21 days as a way to further protect users' privacy.
