Hanoi (VNA) - Those with smartphones would do well to download Bluezone, a Bluetooth-based app that helps determine if a person has comein contact with a COVID-19 patient, the Authority of Information Technology Application at theMinistry of Information and Communications (MIC) has suggested.
In a documentreleased recently, the authority asked agencies, organisations, associations, trainingfacilities, restaurants, hotels, and other businesses to play an active role inpromoting the use of the app.
As of10pm on August 2, it had more than 2 million downloads.
The contract tracing app, developed by tech firm Bkav, uses Bluetooth Low Energy, a wirelesspersonal area network technology, to link with smartphones within a two-meter distance.
If a user is positivefor SARS-CoV-2 (known as person F0), health authorities can identify those whohad close contact with that person (known as F1), and the system will alertthem about the risk of infection.
They will be alsoprovided with instructions on contacting health authorities for assistance.
The app is completelyconfidential, anonymous, and transparent, as it only stores data on the user’s phoneand does not transfer user’s information or locations to the system.
Apart from Bluezone,NCOVI is another app being used in the fight against the disease.
Data collectedvia the app enables the health sector to learn about cases in need of medical supportin the fastest and most effective manner. The app allows access to more than 10,000users at the same time.
MIC and the Ministryof Health have suggested all Vietnamese people use NCOVI to report their healthstatus, while obtaining up-to-date and relevant information./.
VNA