Topics Coronavirus | Mobile apps | Lockdown
Currently available on iOS and Android platforms, Aarogya Setu was downloaded by 90 million users until May 4. In its guidelines for the third phase of nationwide lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made it mandatory for all private and public sector employees to download use the app and aid in fight against Covid-19.
"Incredible! India leads the world in leveraging technology to fight COVID-19. #AarogyaSetu:the most downloaded healthcare app & amongst the top 10 downloaded apps in the World for April 2020 in 1st month itself. Never seen this before. We are united in our fight against COVID-19," Kant tweeted.
Incredible ! India leads the world in leveraging technology to fight COVID-19. #AarogyaSetu:the most downloaded healthcare app & amongst the top 10 downloaded apps in the World for April 2020 in 1st month itself.Never seen this before. We are united in our fight against COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/Ah4GOzdatM
— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) May 8, 2020
Earlier this week, Union IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said that the Aarogya Setu app was "secure" and there was no privacy breach in it. He rejected charges that it was a "sophisticated surveillance system" that was leveraged to track citizens without their consent.
A version of Aarogya Setu will soon be available to the 100 million users of JioPhone; testing of the solution for this is currently underway.
The mobile application helps users identify whether they are at risk of Covid-19. It also provides people with important information, including ways to avoid coronavirus and its symptoms. The MHA has also said the mobile app is a must for people living in coronavirus containment zones.