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Coronavirus Apps: Every App the Central Government And States Have Deployed to Track COVID 19

Coronavirus Apps: Every App the Central Government And States Have Deployed to Track COVID-19 1g4mi

Here’s a list of the coronavirus-tracker apps launched by State and Union governments. 6t2t61

By Abhik Sengupta | Updated: 1 April 2020 16:08 IST

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Coronavirus Apps: Every App the Central Government And States Have Deployed to Track COVID-19

Photo Credit: Google Play 4k2z6y

Govt has launched COVID19 app to capture citizens' to tackle the pandemic

Highlights

There are over 10 apps by different governments on Google Play Store
Both Central and State governments are looking at ways to tackle COVID-19
Few apps like COVA Punjab are available on the Apple App Store

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As the novel coronavirus continues to spread across India, both the Central and State governments are ramping up efforts to fight the pandemic. Some of the measures that both the governments are adopting include ensuring strict lockdown procedures, curbing the movement of public transport, sanitisation of public spaces, etc. Additionally, several government bodies are relying on technology to spread information about the novel coronavirus pandemic. Both the Central and several State governments have developed their respective mobile applications in a bid to make citizens more aware of their surroundings and track the spread of the disease.

While some of these mobile apps are available on Google Play Store, others are yet to be released. However, with the development of several coronavirus-related apps, critics across social media platforms have raised concerns over s' privacy. For instance, some apps allow s to self diagnose the symptoms after taking a small survey but it is unclear how and where the government will store the given information, though some do have privacy policies in the apps.

It can be equally perplexing for a to choose the ‘right app' as both the Central and State governments are launching multiple apps, almost offering the same features.

Here's a brief look into the coronavirus-related apps, launched by governments to tackle the pandemic. Do note, this is not a full list, but only those that have been launched thus far.

Corona Kavach 112jn

launched on Google Play store but was unavailable at the time of publishing this article.

One of the main features of the Corona Kavach is that the app provides s with real-time location of 'infected s' whenever they activate the 'Kavach' feature present on the app. This will enable s to track infected people around their location. However, while doing this, non-infected s can also expose their real-time location, therefore, potentially exposing sensitive data.

The app further allows s to check real-time information on coronavirus-infected cases, the number of cured cases, and deaths due to the disease in the country. To use Corona Kavach, s need to further with a one-time (OTP) sent to the mobile number. s can also go into the menu, and fill in the questionnaire to provide health details.

It is unclear how the app stores s' data since no page highlights the , only an FAQ. However, this could change as and when an updated version of the app is reed to the Play Store.

Test Yourself Goa y472i

Test Yourself Goa app is developed by Goa Ministry of Health in collaboration with Innovaccer to fight coronavirus pandemic in the state. The official app description of Test Yourself Goa states that s here can self-diagnose coronavirus symptoms.

Once the opens the app, a page notifies readers that Test Yourself Goa "does not provide medical advice." The page comes next following which the app asks for basic information including name, number, zip code, and residency status. There is also a survey that has six basic questions that can be answered in either 'yes' or 'no'. The questions are mainly related to s' travel history, and present symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath etc.

Based on the answers, the app further notifies the s whether they have coronavirus symptoms or not. The app privacy's policy does not specify how the information will be store.

Test Yourself Goa is available on Google Play Store

Currently, the app is available on Google Play. It is unclear whether the app will arrive on Apple devices or not. The launch of the app was also announced by Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Twitter.

Similarly, Innovaccer has also partnered with the Puducherry government to develop Test Yourself Puducherry app. The app in of the design and features is similar to Test Yourself Goa app. The here after selecting the location and filling personal credentials is redirected to a similar survey with coronavirus-related questions. The Puducherry app, however, does highlight Innovaccer's . The app is only also available on Android devices.

Test Yourself Puducherry is available on Google Play Store

COVID-19 Quarantine Monitor - Tamil Nadu 1c4g6a

To ensure that citizens under home quarantine in Tamil Nadu do not violate official guidelines, the State government collaborated with the Pixxon Ai Solutions to develop COVID-19 Quarantine Monitor app. To use the app, s need to with a Tamil Nadu-ed mobile number.

COVID-19 Quarantine Monitor is Tamil Nadu government's app to tackle coronavirus

With the COVID-19 Quarantine Monitor, the government claims that both s and the state government can monitor the live location of citizens who are under home quarantine. The idea behind is to ensure that people especially those who are diagnosed with the disease are maintaining social distance. s can also check coronavirus symptoms after providing relevant information via the app.

Since we could not to the app, it is unclear what the of the app entails. COVID-19 Quarantine Monitor is available on Google Play Store only.

Quarantine Watch 3k4c2v

Similar to the Tamil Nadu government's COVID-19 Quarantine Monitor app, Quarantine Watch as the name suggests aims to monitor the location of all the citizens who are under home quarantine in Karnataka.

Quarantine Watch is available on Google Play Store

The app recently courted controversy after Karnataka Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar directed all home quarantined citizens in the state to enroll themselves and send their selfies on an hourly basis. The decision was announced after citizens under home quarantine were found violating official guidelines.

However, observers have claimed that by doing this, the privacy of the s is at the risk of being exposed. In a series of tweets, the Internet Freedom Foundation also raised the matter.

Sending selfies every hour is an egregious breach of personal autonomy even at the times of a public health emergency due to Covid-19. We respectfully urge the Goverment of Karnataka to reconsider it's Carona App deployment and integrate privacy by design. @CMofKarnataka
— Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) (@internetfreedom) March 30, 2020

To use the app, s again need to with their state-ed mobile number. The app is developed by the Revenue Department of the Karnataka government and is available on the Google Play Store only.

Corona Watch 553e6e

Corona Watch is another mobile app by the Karnataka government that claims to show the locations of coronavirus-affected patients and their movement history of 14 days.

Corona Watch is currently available on Google Play Store

The app is developed by the Karnataka Geographic Information System Agency and requires access to the phone's location, media, storage, and network to function. Corona Watch further contains a map that shows spots visited by people who were later diagnosed positive with COVID-19. It also shows areas in Karnataka where people are under house quarantine. The map, however, only highlights the areas and does not reveal the address of the people.

The app does not contain a page, therefore, it is unclear how the data is stored. The app can be ed via Google Play Store.

COVA Punjab 1f593f

COVA Punjab is a coronavirus-tracker app developed by the Punjab government. The app is available on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

People in Punjab can now get their curfew es for emergencies, report mass gatherings, know home quarantine patients and foreign returned travellers, & do a lot more on the #COVA App, which will also soon provide facility to request for groceries and other essentials....(1/2) pic.twitter.com/P1IYDR4J9h
— Government of Punjab (@PunjabGovtIndia) March 28, 2020

To use the app, s need to with their mobile number which does not need to be ed in Punjab. Once logged in, 's can view the dashboard featuring real-time coronavirus cases updates in the state. The app contains several other features such as preventive care information and other government advisories. s can also apply for curfew es via this app.

COVA Punjab app is available on both Apple and Google app store

Additionally, the app provides real-time information on the novel coronavirus cases in India. Other features on the app include self-diagnosis information, coronavirus awareness, travelling instructions, information on hospitals in Punjab, FAQs, and call . The in the app claims that the s' information will not be shared with other third parties.

GoK Direct 53665u

The Kerala government also stepped up efforts to launch their own app to ensure citizens' awareness over the coronavirus pandemic. The app appears to be developed by two different developers along with the State government, one for the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

Kerala government recently launched GoK Direct on Android devices

Unlike most of the other apps, GoK Direct does not require s to and is more like a coronavirus-news app.The app also provides various language options through which s can consume news related to the novel coronavirus.

Mahakavach 55623g

Mahakavach is Maharashtra government's app to tackle coronavirus pandemic in the state. In response to Gadgets 360, developers of the app said that Mahakavach aims to improve two major processes essential for combating the virus. These include " tracing" and "quarantine tracking."

However, after we opened the app, the home page does not reveal the name Mahavach but rather shows the text "Private Kit". The app further asked for permission to access location, following which a new page opened. In the new page, we could see the news option that did not contain any information. It is interesting to note that while the app asked for location-permission, it indicated that the location data will not be shared outside.

There was also a mysterious import/ export option that asked for Google details. At the bottom of the page, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology branding was noted.

The app is currently available on Google Play Store only and is developed by Maharashtra State Innovation Society.

Mahakavach app is developed by the Maharashtra government

COVID19 96r1i

COVID19 is another Android app developed by the Central government to tackle the coronavirus cases in India. The app has been designed to capture on any treatment undergone by individuals.

COVID19 app is developed by MeitY

However, the app asks for permission to access the phone's media in order to proceed. s have pointed out that after providing credentials the screen remains blank for . The app is currently available on Goole Play Store.

Meanwhile, the Central government is reportedly developing a questioned the privacy of the . The app, on the other hand, promises to keep the data encrypted.

Similarly, other states such as Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh have also reportedly launched their respective apps to tackle the disease and monitor citizens under home quarantine. The apps, Corona Mukt Himachal and SMC Convid 19 were reportedly rolled out, however, the apps were not available on the app stores when we tried finding them.

Moreover, three municipal corporations in Maharashtra have started using mobile phone apps specifically designed to help curb the spread of coronavirus, senior officials told PTI.

The corporations are reportedly using the Coviguard and Covicare apps - but the aforementioned applications were not found on the app stores.

Currently, India is under partial lockdown till April 14. As of Wednesday, over 1,600 cases and 38 deaths were coronavirus in the country.

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