In an attempt to trace people with COVID-19 in South Africa, the National Department of Health (DoH) and Discovery have partnered with Vodacom to launch a CoVID-19 Alert app to strengthen the existing contact in the country.
The app is free and will give exposure notification tool which will help any user to know if they have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
When close contact app users receive the exposure notification, they also receive information on what to do next to self-quarantine, and to optimise their health and wellbeing.
It uses Bluetooth contact tracing technology, which simply tracks close contact (proximity) between smartphones and not the actual locations of the smartphones.
After downloading and installing the app on your phone, it will take over the background. Bluetooth and notifications must be enabled for the app to work and users need to have access to a mobile or Wi-Fi network to send and receive exposure alerts.
Vodacom has announced that it will zero-rate the app which will help it’s customers understand that anyone who downloads the app will be able to do so for free via the ConnectU platform.
This is aimed at the Prepaid market, especially customers who are simply not able to afford day-to-day internet access.
Executive Director and Chief Officer of Corporate Affairs at Vodacom in South Africa, Takalani Netshitenzhe said, “Working with government and other important stakeholders as part of our social contract, Vodacom remains committed to finding innovative ways to reduce the spread of Coronavirus. It is becoming clear that in order to prevent a human catastrophe of enormous proportions in our country, big corporates such as Vodacom ought to be responsive in this environment and use its own resources and core capabilities to help the government combat the pandemic.”
She explained, “By zero-rating the site on our network, we are minimising barriers of access to communication for South Africans whilst at the same time promoting health and safety.”
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