More than a million Australians have downloaded a coronavirus contact tracing app within hours of it being released by the government, the BBC reported.
COVIDSafe lets devices conduct a “digital handshake” when they come within 5 feet of each other, notifying users if they’ve come into contact for longer than 15 minutes with an infected person. The app then logs this contact and encrypts it.
Australia has recorded 6,694 confirmed coronavirus cases and 80 deaths from the virus, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The app asks users to supply their age range, a mobile number, a post code and a name – which can be a pseudonym. The government said all data would be wiped after 21 days, or when someone deleted the app from their phone.
On Sunday, the Australian states of Queensland and Western Australia said they would relax social distancing rules this week to permit larger outdoor gatherings – but the state of Victoria will continue with stricter curbs.
