A COVID Tracker App has been launched this week in Ireland, with nearly 1 million people downloading the app in the first 24 hours.
The app uses Bluetooth and anonymous IDs to log close contact with any phone that also has the app. It uses technology developed by Apple and Google called Exposure Notification, to share anonymous IDs. The app will be used alongside a manual contract tracing team.
Research conducted by Science Foundation Ireland highlighted that the majority of people in Ireland are in favour of an app with 82% of respondents willing to install it.
Last week we reported on contact tracing apps around the world following a statement from Boris Johnson: “no country in the world has a working contact-tracing app”. A handful of countries would argue otherwise, read the story here.
Stephen Donnelly TD, Minister for Health “As we ease restrictions, many important aspects of Irish life are returning and we are able to access more services and to meet more people. The introduction of the COVID Tracker App will allow us to speed up reporting and tracing from the first onset of the symptoms of COVID-19, making app’s role in testing and contact tracing vital to the continued momentum of the reopening of Irish society and business.”
The app development process has been led by the HSE and the Department of Health and technical partners from the Irish private sector and scientific partners from Science Foundation Ireland.
Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn said: “Until we have a vaccine, or an effective treatment, testing and contact tracing are vital to our ongoing collective efforts to minimise the spread of COVID-19.”
“The app is integral to contact tracing, working in tandem with the key public health measures of social distancing, hand washing, covering our coughs and wearing face coverings, helping us to stay safe and to protect each other.”
Dr. Sarah Doyle, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE HPSC said: “As society reopens, the COVID Tracker App represents a simple way that we can all work together to continue to suppress COVID-19. The app will support our capacity to trace close contacts quickly, which is essential in containing the spread of this virus.”
