While there may not be any sign of a vaccine or cure for Covid-19, it seems the situation is progressing and our little country is doing its part to protect our people 😇🧐
Yesterday, the HSE launched the countries first, free, mobile app that will allow “will help us to protect each other and slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ireland. Using the COVID Tracker app along with the existing public health measures will help us all stay safe when we meet up, socialise, work or travel.”
The tracker allows users to ‘check-in’ everyday and report how they are feeling each day, find out if they have symptoms of coronavirus, and get trusted advice.
If you use the app you will:
- be alerted if you have been in close contact with another app user who has tested positive for coronavirus
- be able to track any symptoms you have and get advice on what to do to protect yourself and others
- be able to anonymously warn other app users that you were in close contact with if you test positive for coronavirus
The new app will be a key player in contact tracing going forward👏🏽
So how does the contacting tracing work?
Every 2 hours the app downloads a list of anonymous IDs. These have been shared with the HSE by other people using the app who have tested positive for coronavirus.
If you have been closer than 2 metres for more than 15 minutes with any of these phones you’ll get an alert that you are a close contact.
The app does this work in the background. This means you can use your phone as normal.
Users have taken to the app and have even found some comedy in its features (not like us Irish at all)
The app is available for both iOS and Android download.
So as the saying goes… Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will the defeat of Covid-19. But as we continue to evolve and tackle the hurdles placed by the virus, we can continue to get one step closer to normality. One app at a time!💪🏽😎
