On April 10, Google and Apple announced the development of an API system for the fight against COVID-19.
Two of the most important technology companies came together to create an API (Application Programming Interface), which will allow greater control for COVID-19 social distancing and contagion prevention measures in the world.
The API will be integrated into the smartphones by updating their respective operating systems. In iOS 13.5 it was released on May 20, 2020, Android devices will receive the update through Google Play Services.
The contact tracing system will work like this, a user who is positive to COVID-19 can decide if they want to notify other users of a possible contact, non-infected users will receive a "Exposure Notification" a message indicating that they have been close to someone who is infected. These notifications have to be manually activated by the user from their device within their operating system settings.
The API was updated several times prior to release to search for confidentiality and security for all users, using exposure keys that are randomly generated without accessing to the location services of the smartphone, meaning that the API uses only data associated with Bluetooth traffic between devices.
A total of 22 countries have requested and received access to this API for pilot test development and subsequently the implementation of an application. Both companies decided that the API will be enabled only for the governments of these countries for the development of a single application by country, incentivizing its massive use.
The app development must match the principles that Google and Apple communicated, among which are that the app must request authorization from the user before sharing that it is a positive case, the app can only be used for COVID-19 purposes and is prohibited accessing to the cellphone's location services. In addition, they reported that the system would stop working when it is no longer necessary in the fight against this virus.
On the other hand, in India the use of a Contact tracing tools similar to the Google and Apple API is being promoted. Even the Asian country's Ministry of Health proposes that all workers use the app to prevent mass contacts.
This app, Aarogya Setu -available in 11 languages- was designed to notify users about the risk of possible infection in addition to informing health authorities about mass contacts what they call Containment Zones, places where the virus has a higher incidence.
There are other applications of this type such as NOVID20, which works in a very similar way to the API mentioned above, using Bluetooth as an alert system in case of contact with possible positive cases of the SARS-CoV-2, always seeking the security and privacy of users.
Technological innovation and the development of new concepts to continue fighting COVID-19 is crucial in times of crisis. Likewise, joint actions between companies, governments and international organizations are necessary at a time when technology is an indispensable tool for the prevention of outbreaks of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
MOBIHEALTH NEWS
XATAKA MOBILE
https://www.xatakamovil.com/aplicaciones/api-google-apple-covid-19-empieza-su-expansion-22-paises
NOVID20
