Share
Our Correspondent
Kohima, Apr 30 (EMN): Aarogya Setu, a mobile application developed by the government of India to connect essential health service with the people of India, became the most downloaded app in India with over 75 million downloads. The app was developed by the ministry of Electronics and IT to help citizens identify their risk of contracting Covid-19.
The app was initially released on April 2 last. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has urged all the citizens to download Aarogya Setu app on their smartphones. He has referred the app as a critical link in the fight against the spread of Covid-19.
The app is said to be available on both Google play (for android phones) and Apple app store. It is available in 12 languages, 11 Indian languages and English.
Mmhonlumo Kikon, advisor of IT Science and Technology, posted a tweet on April 28 which read, “Till date there are 73, 631 total users of #ArogyaSetu from Nagaland! We encourage every citizen of Nagaland to download this app!”
The app was designed to keep a user informed in case s/he crossed paths with someone who has been tested positive. Tracking is done through a Bluetooth and location-generated social graph, which could show one’s interaction with anyone who has tested positive.
The app has a tool for self testing and assessment, where the user is asked to answer a number of questions. In case some of the answers suggest Covid symptoms, the information would be sent to a government server. The data would then help the government take timely steps and initiate the isolation procedure, if necessary.
Users would be alerted if someone they came in close proximity with unknowingly test positive. The app alerts are accompanied by instructions on how to maintain social distancing, how to stay safe and what to do in case one develop symptoms.