SwissCovid, First Apple-Google Based Covid-19 Contact-Tracing App Released

A Switzerland-based team that was developing coronavirus contact-tracing app has reportedly said that they have become the first to launch a product for coronavirus contact-tracing, by incorporating a tech provided by Apple and Google.

This Switzerland's app is based on the Apple-Google application programming interface (API) has been dubbed SwissCovid. The API that was rolled out on 20 May and can be used to create public health apps that keeps track of the spread of Covid-19 through Bluetooth signals.

The is developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), ETC Zurich, that relies on a decentralised approach and is the first kind of app that is based on the Apple-Google framework to be actually launched.

BBC report says, before a wider rollout, members of the Swiss army, hospital workers and civil servants will now be able to install the SwissCovid app.

As per the report, automated contact tracing uses smartphones to identify the risk of coronavirus infection, for a considerable time when two people are close to each other. It is aimed at warning one person if the other is diagnosed with the COVID-19 disease later.

As per a report in Engadget, 22 public health agencies requested the API. Having said that countries like Australia already have their apps, while the UK has said it will test an app of its own. Though switching to the Apple-Google framework remains a possibility for the UK.

According to the Swissinfo.ch, the Google version of the app was leaked accidentally to the public before the access was restricted. The report further adds that in June the Swiss Parliament is going debate on the legality of the app, and if approved, should be made available to the public-at-large.