UAE launches Covid-19 tracing app

The UAE’s Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has launched a new Covid-19 tracing app called TraceCovid in line with recommendations of global health bodies to “test, treat and track” as an effective measure to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

The app will identify people who have been in close contact with infected individuals, allowing authorities to immediately reach out to possibly infected individuals and provide them with the necessary healthcare treatments, reported official news agency WAM.

The app which uses the Bluetooth function on smartphones allows users to detect and identify another device with the same installed app.

أطلقت دائرة الصحة أبوظبي تطبيق الهواتف الذكية الجديد TraceCovid لتتبع عدوى فيروس كورونا المستجد كوفيد-19، حيث يساهم في تحديد الأشخاص المخالطين للمصابين بالفيروس وذلك لتسريع وتيرة توفير الرعاية الصحية اللازمة وضمان اتخاذ الإجراءات الوقائية حفاظاً على صحة المجتمع. pic.twitter.com/RCfqvz1WTV

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@admediaoffice) April 18, 2020

When two people who have downloaded the app are in close proximity of each other, both devices will exchange an encrypted Secure Tracing Identifier (STI) and store the exchanged STI locally on both devices.

If one of the users is infected with the virus, the relevant authorities will be able to access the user’s data and timestamp, while ensuring complete privacy of personal information, and will be able to track all the other people who have come in close contact with the infected individual.

DoH said that the app can be downloaded on both iOS and Android devices.

Once downloaded, users should enable the Bluetooth function and allow it to remain active at all times in order to determine the location of the users. “We recommend users to activate the energy saving mode in the phone, given that the application consumes very low rates of energy,” said the DoH.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Hamed, chairman of DoH added: “The safety and well-being of the society will always remain our utmost priority at DoH. Through the new application, we will implement a proven tracking system to control the spread of infectious diseases worldwide. We encourage you all to download the application and contribute to maintaining the health and safety of the society and protecting yourselves, your families and all those around you.”

Last month, the UAE also launched a bilingual Covid-19 tracker website that provides real-time updates regarding the virus within the country.

Read: UAE’s Covid-19 tracker website provides live updates regarding the virus

The website was developed by the UAE’s Supreme Council for National Security and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority and displays official information regarding the the total diagnosed cases, critical cases, deaths and the number of those who have recovered.

A ‘Daily Self-assessment’ tab on the website also leads to a questionnaire designed in coordination with the country’s Ministry of Health and Prevention to help people assess their health condition and to give them prompt advice if required.

As of April 18, the UAE has reported a total of 6,302 confirmed Covid-19 cases including 37 deaths.

Read: UAE reports 477 new cases, total tally at 6,302

It has also reported 1,188 recoveries within the country.