Apple and Google announced a version of iOS and Android operating systems that will include a coronavirus contact tracing system. The earlier version required the users to seek and install the app made by the public health authority.
This notification system uses Bluetooth signals from smartphones that have opted-in to find out how closely and for how long two phones were nearby, without identifying or collecting the location of users.
Contact tracing software will allow public health groups to send notifications to people at risk
In case a user tests positive for COVID-19, then the system can send out a push notification to other participating phones that they may have been exposed to the virus. This “Exposure Notification Express” will allow public health groups to send notifications to people at risk for exposure without the need to build and maintain the apps.
This opt-in ability is intended to improve the adoption of the system, further improving its effectiveness. It requires a large number of people to share Bluetooth signals at work.
Users to get options for opt-in, after clicking on push notification
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Instead of building an app, the public health groups can now submit a configuration file with their contact information and their guidance. Users will get a push notification when it is available in their state or region. Once they click on the notification, the users will get a series of screens with information about the system, giving the user an ability to opt-in.
Users will download an automatically generated app, with this system. iPhones will not require a separate app and configuration options will be available in the settings app.
Contact tracing software to be included in iOS 13.7
Apple and Google representatives said that a Christopher Fraser at Oxford University conducted a study in which he reassessed and lowered the estimate of how many people should participate in exposure notification for it to be effective. Fraser estimates a 15% update of these apps could help reduce the spread of the virus by 15%.
Also, the company representatives said that six states in the US have released apps using exposure notification, and 25 apps are interested in this technology. DC, Maryland, Nevada, and Virginia also have committed to the new app-free approach. Presently, the system does not work across state borders. For iPhones, the new software will be included in iOS 13.7. Google will include the new software in the Android update coming the following month.