Indian Government has launched yet another Coronavirus tracking app called Aarogya Setu. It is available for both Android and iOS and here’s how it can be used to detect COVID-19.
Aarogya Setu is the official Coronavirus tracking app launched by the Indian Government, as a part of its contribution in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. The Aarogya Setu Coronavirus tracking app’s primary aim is to notify users whether or not they are at the risk of catching COVID-19. The app has been developed by the National Informatics Centre that comes under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Read on to know everything about the new Aarogya Setu Coronavirus tracker app.
Aarogya Setu app: What is it?
Aarogya Setu, which translates from Sanskrit to ‘a bridge of health.’ tells users if they can catch Coronavirus and makes use of GPS and Bluetooth to determine if a person is near or have been in contact with a Coronavirus-infected person. The app aims to tell people about the ‘best’ practices they can follow and the apt sources they can refer to so that people can cope well with the ongoing virus outbreak.
The app is available in 11 languages including English, Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, among others and needs permission to access a user’s location (which is required to be on always), Bluetooth, and data. The app claims to share the user data only with the Government of India and not third parties.
Aarogya Setu app: How to download?
The Aarogya Setu app is available for both Android and iOS users and can be downloaded via both the Google Play Store and the App Store.
- Go to either Google Play Store or the App Store
- Look for Aarogya Setu in the search bar
- Hit the Install option to download it
Aarogya Setu app: How to use?
Here’s how you can use the Aarogya Setu app by following these simple steps:
- Once the Aarogya Setu app is downloaded, open the app on either your Android or iOS device
- Select the preferred language from 11 language options
- You need to go past a couple of screens that give an idea about the app
- Following this, provide the app with device location, Bluetooth, and data sharing permissions and click I Agree. Don’t forget to turn on the Bluetooth of your smartphone
- Enter your 10-digit mobile number and verify with an OTP received
- Fill in your personal details such as gender, full name, age, profession, travel history, and then click on the Submit option
Once all this is done, you will know if you are at the risk of getting Coronavirus, help centres, a self-assessment test, and more Coronavirus related information. Additionally, the app asks you to use the app from time-to-time to remain updated.
To recall, last week, MeitY introduced the Corona Kavach app solving a similar purpose. However, the app is in beta as of now and is available only for Android users. The Aarogya Setu app has a cleaner and simpler UI as compared to Corona Kavach and is available for both Android and iOS users. Another distinguishing feature between both apps is that Corona Kavach also lists down the number of active Coronavirus cases in the country.
CBSE Writes To School Principals, Recommends Arogya Setu App
CBSE has written to all school principals recommending the Arogya Setu app and Health Ministry’s protocol for immunity boosting.
Education Ministry Recommends ‘Arogya Setu’ App For Students
In the wake of COVID-19 threat, the Ministry for Human Resource Development (MHRD) has requested educational institutes across the country to observe all precautionary measures.
In a letter which is addressed to UGC, AICTE, NCTE, NIOS, NCERT, and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, the HRD Secretary writes that the Aarogya Setu app will be helpful to students, faculty/teachers and their family members.
The app has been developed by Government of India in public-private partnership to fight against covid-19.The app will enable people to assess themselves the risk for their catching the Corona Virus infection. It will calculate this based on their interaction with others, using cutting edge Bluetooth technology, algorithms and artificial intelligence.The app is available for download on both android and iOS devices.
In the letter, HRD Secretary also informs about a protocol developed by Ministry of Ayush for immunity boosting and self-care measures. The same can be found here.
The Secretary has also suggested that, as requested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, students may light a candle, diya or torch on their mobile phones for 9 minutes at 9:00 pm on April 5, 2020. The gesture is ‘to realise the power of light and to highlight the objective for which we all are fighting together. However no one should assemble in colonies or on road or anywhere outside their houses,’ writes Mr. Khare.
Common Service center (CSC) Also , Recommends Arogya Setu App
Apart from the app, CSC has shared a protocol document for immunity boosting which has been developed by the Ministry of Ayush. VLE’S can also explain the contents of the document to the Costumers through the communication channels available to them.
