COVID-19 tracing app Bluezone hits 30 million users

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• All localities now at high risk of coronavirus transmission: PM

Photo: VNE

The figure is 11,000 higher than that on March 1, and over 5.2 million higher than that on January 28 when the third outbreak wave started in the country, according to an annoucement the Ministry of Information and Communications.

The Central city of Danang takes the lead nationwide in the rate of smartphone users downloading the app , with 42.3 percent of the locality’s population. It is followed by the northern province of Hai Duong, the capital city of Hanoi and the northern province of Quang Ninh.

At present, over 30 million Bluezone users can make online health declarations on this app. In addition, people can also inform authorized offices of cases suspected to be infected with COVID-19 via the app.

Developed by tech firm Bkav, the app uses Bluetooth Low Energy, a wireless personal area network technology, to link with smartphones within a two-meter distance. 

If a user is positive for SARS-CoV-2 (known as person F0), health authorities can identify those who had close contact with F1, and the system will alert them about the risk of infection. They will be also provided with instructions on contacting health authorities for assistance.

The app is completely confidential, anonymous, and transparent, as it only stores data on users’ phones and does not transfer information or locations to the system. It was launched on April 18, 2020.