On Tuesday, 14th April, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on air to address the nation to announce the extension of lockdown till 3rd May. Along with this, he further also mentioned about Aarogya Setu application and highlight the nation to download it.
This recently launched app have reached over 50 millions downloads in just 13 days, making it the world fastest download app.
This application is meant to alert users if they have come in contact with a Covid-19 positive patient, and what measures they need to take in case that happens.
Aarogya Setu also asks its users to provide both Bluetooth and location services access. This in fact means to help the app identify contact traces of a Covid-19 positive patients. This happen through data sharing between devices with the app when they are in each other proximity.
Once you download the app, it walks you through the information it will provide you. The user then has to enter their mobile phone number, verified with a one-time password. After this, the user enters their name, age, gender, profession, travel history, and known contact with a coronavirus patient.
The Aarogya Setu app supports 11 languages. 10 is in Indian languages and 1 in English. Later, the app will has an option to enter your health stats and other credentials.
Ensuring the data is encrypted, the app uses your location to know of the area you are around comes under the infected areas of the database and also needs an activated Bluetooth to determine if you have been within six feet from the infected person.
Similarly,Covid-19 Patients locations are also detect. As your location and Covid -19 location become same you have been notified that Covid-19 patient is close.
Therefore in Aarogya Setu app it has mentioned to set bluetooth and location sharing always on.
If your location sharing is not ON then app cannot detect whether you are near COVID-19 patient or not.
