Nabilah Safira
TechInAfrica – In an attempt to fortify the existing contact tracing methods in the country, South Africa’s National Department of Health (DoH) collaborates with Discovery to reveal a COVID-19 Alert app.
The application is a free introduction notice device that informs clients as to whether/when they have been in close contact with somebody who has tested positive for COVID-19.
To simply tracks the close contact between smartphones and not the current locations of the smartphones, the application utilizes Bluetooth contact tracing technology
The application will directly run in the background when users have downloaded and installed the app. Bluetooth and notices must be empowered for the application to work and users are required to have access to or Wi-Fi network to send and get exposure alarms.
Vodacom has informed that the application will be included in zero-rate of the app. It means that customers of this company who download the application can do so for free through the ConnectU platform. The platform is aimed at the Prepaid market, especially customers who are not able to afford day-to-day internet access.
Takalani Netshitenzhe, Director for External Affairs for Vodacom South Africa said that it is a part of Vodacom South Africa’s social contract to partner with the government and other essential stakeholders. Vodacom is still committed to discovering innovative ways to reduce the spread of Coronavirus. Big companies like Vodacom should be responsible for the environment to prevent a humanitarian disaster of proportions in the country. Moreover, companies should use their resources and core capabilities to help the government fight the pandemic.
Source: Itnewsafrica.com
