On 14th April 2020 in his 4th address to nation about Covid-19 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has suggested to download Aarogya Set App. Aarogya Setu is a coronavirus tracking app launched by the Government of India on 2 April. It is the first official coronavirus tracking app in the country. Let us see how to use this app.
Aarogya Setu is a Sanskrit Language word which means “A bridge of health“. The app has been downloaded by over 5o million users and has become the world’s fastest app to reach 5 crore users, achieving the milestone in 13 days.
Even World Bank in its South Economic Focus report praised India’s ‘Aarogya Setu’ app aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus with the help of contact tracing.
As we know that the cases of COVID-19 in the world including India are increasing. The Government of India has already MYGov app to spread awareness about the coronavirus outbreak. But a dedicated coronavirus tracking app ‘Aarogya Setu’ is also launched that will use the Smartphone’s location data and Bluetooth to check if you have been near a COVID-19 infected person or not. It is the first dedicated coronavirus tracking app in India.
About Aarogya Setu
Aarogya Setu, a mobile app developed by the ministry of electronics and IT to help citizens identify their risk of contracting Covid-19 (coronavirus). The app is there on both Google Play (for Android phones) and Apple App Store (for ioS). It is available in 11 languages — 10 Indian languages and English.
Aarogya Setu is designed to keep an user informed in case s/he has crossed paths with someone who has tested positive. The tracking is done through a Bluetooth & location-generated social graph, which can show your interaction with anyone who has tested positive.
After installing the app, you have to switch on Bluetooth (you are recommended to keep it on at all times) and Location. Then, set ‘location sharing’ to ‘Always’ (you can change this anytime later).It has a tool for self-testing. The user is asked to answer a number of questions. In case some of the answers suggest Covid symptoms, the information will be sent to a government server. The data will then help the government take timely steps and initiate the isolation procedure, if necessary.
You will be alerted if someone you came in close proximity with, unknowingly, tests positive. The app alerts are accompanied by instructions on how to self-isolate and what to do in case you develop symptoms.
Steps require to use the app are as follows
- Install the Aarogya Setu application from certified app stores for Android & iOS devices.
- Once the app is installed, after sharing some vital information on Covid-19 it would ask to the select your preferred language from 10 Indian Languages & English.
- Government understands the nature and sensitivity of the data which they are going to access, hence a complete T&C and Privacy Policy is shared by government with a clause that the information wouldn’t be compromised
- Next you have allow app to access the device location.
- You have to switch on Bluetooth (you are recommended to keep it on at all times) and Location. Then, set ‘location sharing’ to ‘Always’ (you can change this anytime later).
- After getting the location access, one have to register his mobile number with the application. (a complete understanding of how mobile number would help in tracing is been shared by the app.)
- Once you register your mobile number, an OTP would be send on the registered number for continuing the application setup.
- Next it has a tool for self-testing. The user is asked to answer a number of questions. In case some of the answers suggest Covid symptoms, the information will be sent to a government server. The data will then help the government take timely steps and initiate the isolation procedure, if necessary.
- After analyzing all the answer given by the user, the app would tell users current risk status against COVID-19.
- One can have this self assessment test anytime he/she feels different in order to update government data.
- COVID updates and few coming soon services like E-Pass can also be used by Aarogya Setu App.
Then, the app asks you whether or not you are ready to volunteer in the times of need.
After you have installed Aarogya Setu in your phone, it will detect other nearby smartphones that also have the app installed. It can then figure out the risk of infection based on sophisticated parameters if any of these contacts is tested positive.
The basis of this calculation — which is done using Bluetooth, algorithms and artificial intelligence — is the smartphone user’s interaction with others.
No doubt the app will help the Government to take necessary steps for assessing the risk of spread of COVID-19 infection and ensuring isolation where required. However, now you may have come to know about the app and also how to use it.
Get your app today and do your bit in the war against COVID-19 https://www.mygov.in/aarogya-setu-app/
#wewillwinagainstcorona
#LetsImprove
Sources:
https://inshorts.com/en/read
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
https://www.jagranjosh.com/?ref=nav_mob
https://www.mygov.in/