StopCovid: what you need to know about the patient tracking app launched this afternoon: Femme Actuelle Le MAG

To limit the spread of the coronavirus and avoid a possible second wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, the executive has designed, with the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (Inria), an application for tracing patients with Covid-19, called StopCovid. The idea? "Limit the spread of the virus by identifying chains of transmission", explained Cédric O, Secretary of State for Digital, in an interview with World last April.

Tuesday, May 26, the National Commission for Computers and Liberties (Cnil) gave the green light to the launch of this application. Deputies and senators also approved StopCovid on Wednesday May 27. But how does this platform launched this afternoon work?

An application based on Bluetooth technology

The use of StopCovid is on a voluntary basis. Its objective "to warn people who have been in contact with a patient tested positive, so that they get tested themselves, and if necessary they are taken care of very early, or so that they confine themselves ", explained Cédric O. She therefore invites sick people to report themselves directly on the platform.

To warn other users of possible contact with a patient, the application uses Bluetooth technology, which allows digital devices to be linked together. Thus, StopCovid identifies people crossed – and who also installed this application – during the last two weeks at less than a meter and for at least 15 minutes. "If a positive case is declared, those who have been in contact with this person are notified automatically", said the secretary of state for digital. They are then invited to isolate themselves and be tested.

Information which can be useful to know if one has been in contact with a person affected by Covid-19 in public transport or in supermarkets for example.

What about the protection of users' privacy?

Olivier Véran assures us that this data is anonymous."No one will have access to the list of infected people, and it will be impossible to know who contaminated whom", explained the Minister of Health to World.

Details that are not enough to alleviate the concerns of some. The object of these fears? The issue of protecting the privacy of users. This is why, in its opinion of May 25 giving the green light to the launch of the application, the Cnil had also delivered recommendations. She wanted in particular an improvement in the information provided to users, or even the confirmation of a right of opposition and a right to erase data.

A study by the University of Oxford (United Kingdom) and published in the journal Science, looked into the value of such an app. Its findings indicate that it can help stem the coronavirus epidemic if it is used by 60% of the population.

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