<p>Singapore launched a contact-tracing smartphone app to allow authorities to identify those who have been exposed to people infected with <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.</p>.<p>Governments around the world have turned to technology to battle the virus.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-gujarat-reports-two-more-positive-cases-of-covid-19-tally-in-india-rises-to-228-799686.html">Follow latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak here</a></strong></p>.<p>The TraceTogether app will work by exchanging short distance Bluetooth signals between phones to detect other participating users in close proximity of 2 metres.</p>.<p>Records of the encounters will be stored locally on each phone with the app, developed by Singapore's Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and the health ministry.</p>.<p>Users will need to send their logs when requested by the health ministry, which will otherwise not have any knowledge of the data, according to an official statement.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-812987.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>Singapore has won international praise for its fastidious approach in tackling the virus - which has included using police investigators and security cameras to help track suspect carriers.</p>.<p>The data stored on users' phones will be encrypted and the app will not access other information, such as a user's location.</p>.<p>"The engineering has preserved the privacy of the users from each other," Janil Puthucheary, a senior minister of state, told reporters.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-faqs-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-pandemic-covid-19-813319.html">Coronavirus FAQs: All you need to know about the new pandemic COVID-19</a></strong></p>.<p>Singapore has stringent rules to deal with infectious diseases - last month it charged a Chinese couple with giving false information about their movements to authorities looking to trace their contacts.</p>.<p>While downloading the app is not compulsory, the government said it would encourage people to do so.</p>.<p>TraceTogether's functionality will be suspended after the epidemic subsides, according to its description in the Apple App Store. </p>
<p>Singapore launched a contact-tracing smartphone app to allow authorities to identify those who have been exposed to people infected with <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> as part of efforts to curb the spread of the disease.</p>.<p>Governments around the world have turned to technology to battle the virus.</p>.<p><strong><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-live-updates-gujarat-reports-two-more-positive-cases-of-covid-19-tally-in-india-rises-to-228-799686.html">Follow latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak here</a></strong></p>.<p>The TraceTogether app will work by exchanging short distance Bluetooth signals between phones to detect other participating users in close proximity of 2 metres.</p>.<p>Records of the encounters will be stored locally on each phone with the app, developed by Singapore's Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and the health ministry.</p>.<p>Users will need to send their logs when requested by the health ministry, which will otherwise not have any knowledge of the data, according to an official statement.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-india-update-state-wise-total-number-of-confirmed-cases-812987.html">Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases</a></strong></p>.<p>Singapore has won international praise for its fastidious approach in tackling the virus - which has included using police investigators and security cameras to help track suspect carriers.</p>.<p>The data stored on users' phones will be encrypted and the app will not access other information, such as a user's location.</p>.<p>"The engineering has preserved the privacy of the users from each other," Janil Puthucheary, a senior minister of state, told reporters.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/coronavirus-faqs-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-pandemic-covid-19-813319.html">Coronavirus FAQs: All you need to know about the new pandemic COVID-19</a></strong></p>.<p>Singapore has stringent rules to deal with infectious diseases - last month it charged a Chinese couple with giving false information about their movements to authorities looking to trace their contacts.</p>.<p>While downloading the app is not compulsory, the government said it would encourage people to do so.</p>.<p>TraceTogether's functionality will be suspended after the epidemic subsides, according to its description in the Apple App Store. </p>