18/08/2020
The technology has already proven its effectiveness in the management of a pandemic such as the one unleashed by the coronavirus. Precisely, those countries that have used it better and faster, such as South Korea or Singapore, have better controlled the spread of a virus with which, according to what we have seen this summer, we are going to have to live longer than desired.
The essential thing, experts say, is to be able to trace the chain of contacts of an infected person, in order to quickly identify all those at risk. In this simple way, the chain of contagion can be broken.
In fact, it is the same work that trackers do, but multiplying their efficiency. In the pilot tests carried out in La Gomera, its range doubled that achieved by the human teams, but the clearest case of success is to be found in Singapore, where a similar system has been in use since March 20.
In Spain we already have Radar Covid, the app that can help to cut the chains of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In less than 24 hours it has become the most downloaded in the Apple and Android stores. There is no closed data, because Apple does not provide the number, but only on Android more than 500,000 people have installed this application on their cell phones.
And yet, it is not enough. Because for it to work well and really help us to fight the virus, it is necessary that the entire population installs it massively, and nothing as simple as doing so. Easier than WhatsApp and much less invasive. These are the reasons why you should install Radar Covid on your mobile and make sure that all your environment does.
- Very easy to install
To have it on your cell phone you only have to download it from one of these links:
Download Radar Covid App Android
- Very easy to use
Actually you just need to activate your bluetooth. From there, with a system very similar to the one used by the TraceTogether app in Singapore, it exchanges identification codes between users automatically and encrypted via Bluetooth.
There is not much else to do. The app will generate an indicator with the risk level and will warn you if there is a possible risk case. In the case of receiving a positive diagnosis by COVID-19, you must enter the ‘single-use confirmation code’ provided by your Public Health Service. This step is voluntary, although logically necessary for the correct functioning of the system.
- Your data is secure
This is one of the major concerns of all users. Is the application safe? Do you respect my privacy or will I always be monitored?
It does not have access to the GPS, camera or contacts of your cell phone, but only to Bluetooth. According to this analysis conducted by El Grupo Informático, Radar Covid is more secure and private than Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, Twitter or WhatsApp.
- We all need to install it
For it to work really well, a minimum of 20% of the population must download it. This means that 9.4 million people need to install it on their cell phones, a figure that can only be achieved if the multiple advantages that the use of this application will have for public health are well communicated.
- Transparency, regulation and control
As pointed out by Alicia Richart, CEO of DigitalES, in In an article on geolocation, four are the fundamental principles on which the use of this technology must be based: transparency about what data is being compiled and how; circumscription of all measurements to a single clear regulatory framework; demonstration to the public of the absence of less privacy-intrusive alternatives and assurance that there will be a independent control system.
To the extent that Radar Covid meets these premises, its mass adoption will be excellent news for everyone and one more way to take advantage of the great benefits offered by digitalization and technology.
