Coronavirus
Representative photo.

The Central government on Thursday launched an app called AarogyaSetu to help people track coronavirus infections more accurately.

The app was launched by the National Informatics Centre that comes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

The app is available in Google Playstore for Android smartphones and App store for iPhones.

“The App, called ‘AarogyaSetu’ joins Digital India for the health and well-being of every Indian. It will enable people to assess themselves the risk for their catching the Corona Virus infection,” the Ministry of Electronics and IT said in a statement.

The app uses cutting edge Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence to determine whether a person is in the risk of contracting a COVID-19 infection.

People will have to first register their mobile number before using the AarogyaSetu app.

“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,” it added.

“The App will help the Government to take necessary timely steps for assessing risk of spread of COVID-19 infection, and ensuring isolation where required,” it further stated.

“The App’s 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,” it stated.

The AarogyaSetu app is available in eleven languages.