The reported corona cases have now risen to over 100,000 in Germany. However, the number of unreported cases is likely to be significantly higher. In order to capture as many people as possible with typical corona symptoms, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in cooperation with the federal government is now asking for voluntary information. Via the free "Corona data donation" app, users are required to state their health in addition to their postcode, such as body temperature or heart rate, according to the RKI website.
"Your contribution against Corona"
Other data queried include gender and "age in 5-year, weight in 5-kilo and height in 5-cm increments." All information is "voluntary and pseudonymized." The data are also "used only for scientific purposes," it continues. In this way, the app should be able to recognize potential symptoms of a corona disease. On a regularly updated map, users can also have a look at the situation with suspected Corona cases in the area of their respective postcodes.
However, the institute emphasizes that the app is not a corona test: "The users themselves are not informed about a possible infection." As an appeal to German citizens at the end of the announcement: "Wash your hands, keep your distance, donate data – your contribution against Corona."