The Government of India launched a mobile app called AarogyaSetu developed in public-private partnership to bring the people of India together in a resolute fight against COVID-19.
Dr. Neeta Verma, Director General, NIC highlighted the features of Aarogya Setu Mobile App, during a press conference for COVID-19. Available in 11 languages, the app is ready for pan-India use from day 1 and has highly scalable architecture. It will enable people to assess themselves the risk of catching the Corona Virus infection. It will calculate this based on their interaction with others, using cutting edge Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence. Aarogya Setu App empowers the users by informing about potential risk of infection through Bluetooth contact tracing; and equips people with self-assessment tools and contextual advice.
Once installed in a smart phone through an easy and user-friendly process, the app detects other devices with AarogyaSetu installed that come in the proximity of that phone. The app can then calculate the risk of infection based on sophisticated parameters if any of these contacts is tested positive.
The App will help the Government take necessary timely steps for assessing risk of spread of COVID-19 infection, and ensuring isolation where required.
The Apps design ensures privacy-first. The personal data collected by the App is encrypted using state-of-the-art technology and stays secure on the phone till it is needed for facilitating medical intervention. Later, DG, NIC also briefed DDNews about the features of Aarogya Setu mobile app.
