The national health department launched a cellphone application on Wednesday to bolster the country's management of the coronavirus pandemic.
Once downloaded the application is zero-rated.said the app did not cost the country lot of money to develop as Discovery covered most of the costs. The app is free and available to anyone in SA.
It uses Bluetooth to exchange “random codes” with other app users when they come within proximity — as if the devices had given each other a digital handshake. The random codes exchanged at the time of “digital handshaking” are stored in a log on each phone for 14 days. Gaurang Tanna, who led the app development team in the department, said the launch was a crucial public health intervention to help suppress Covid-19 and prevent a resurgence of infections.Once it is launched, the user needs to consent to the terms and conditions before it becomes active. A privacy policy forms part of the terms and conditions. Enable notifications and Bluetooth and let the app run in the background.
You can choose to enter your unique PIN and date of birth. The app will provide advice on what to do next to manage one's health and self-isolate.Other smartphones using the Covid Alert SA app check the central server periodically throughout the day. Those devices with random codes on record matching codes shared to the central server by your device, will receive a notification about potential exposure to Covid-19 over the past 14 days.
The next user will receive advice on what to do next to monitor their symptoms, choose whether to self-quarantine and more.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES | SA records just under 2,000 Covid-19 casesCovid-19 live updates.
Read more »
COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES | SA's Covid-19 deaths gradually approaching 15,000 markCovid-19 live updates
Read more »
SA needs a plan to protect children’s health beyond Covid-19The Covid-19 pandemic has been a head-on challenge to even the most solid health systems in the world.
Read more »
SA records 121 new Covid-19 deaths and fewer than 2,000 fresh casesSA recorded fewer than 2,000 new cases of Covid-19 in a 24-hour period for the first time since Friday.
Read more »
SA records 121 new Covid-19 deaths and fewer than 2,000 fresh casesHealth minister Dr Zweli Mkhize announced on Monday night that 1,985 new infections had been recorded in the past 24 hours.
Read more »