Earlier last month the India Government launched a mobile tracking app for COVID-19 called Aarogya Setu app. The app is available for both iOS and Android users and has been the National Informatics Centre. The app is aimed at augmenting the initiatives of the Government of India, particularly the Department of Health, in proactively reaching out to and informing the users of the app regarding risks, best practices and relevant advisories pertaining to the containment of COVID-19. The app is under a new controversy as the Government has asked all its employees to come to office after they see a “safe” status for commuting by the app. Now according to a new report touts that the Aarogya Setu app will come pre-install to all the latest smartphones in India.
Yes, from now on whenever you buy a new smartphone you will see the Aarogya Setu App pre-installed in your device. This is because the Government is planning to make this a mandatory for the owner to register themself on the App even before it is ready to use. According to a report by Mint, the COVID-19 tracking app might come installed in your new smartphones by default. This piece of information has been shared by the publisher’s sources from the industry, one a smartphone maker and the other from the Manufacturers Association for Information Technology (MAIT).
As all the manufacturing units in the country remain closed due to coronavirus lockdown the pre-install of the app on the new smartphones will only be possible when the manufacturing of the new devices resumes. The government aims at popularising the app in greater numbers as the Prime Minister is also urging the citizens to download the app in view of coronavirus spread. This would help the government to trace the infected person with the use of the app. Based on the South Korea and Singapore experience of contact tracing the Indian government will be able to make its own efforts through the app.
Recently the central government employees have been asked to download the app so that they can come to the office. So before they start for the office they should review their status on the mobile application. When it shows a safe status or low risk then only they can come to the office. In case the app shows ”moderate” or ”high risk” status they are not advised for commuting to the office and should remain at home or self-isolation for 14 days till their status starts showing a safe or low risk. The government has issued this order to all the departments that come under central government and a higher level office ( Joint Secretary) should be responsible to ensure strict compliance of the instructions. They can also issue the same orders to all the autonomous, statutory bodies, PSUs etc attached to them.
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