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Apple and Google have started the next stage in the digital fight against Covid-19. Image: keystone
Analysis
IPhone and Android phones can now warn of infections without the Corona app
Apple and Google are integrating a “shortcut” for Corona warning technology into their iOS and Android mobile operating systems. Here are the most important questions and the (preliminary) answers.
What’s new?
Apple and Google are integrating Corona warning technology more deeply into their iOS and Android mobile operating systems and are launching a “quick feature” that should allow you to display warnings even without an app installed.
For Android smartphone owners, the innovations come with an update to Google Play services. For iPhone users, the iOS 13.7 operating system update was released on Tuesday night.
Note on our behalf: The software innovations are so new that the SwissCovid developers have yet to provide any evaluation (see chart below). The article contains digital editor reviews based on the beta version of iOS 13.7 (for developers), among other things.
Apple and Google refer to the corona warning feature as “Express Show Notifications”. The new feature allows smartphone users to receive warnings when they have been around people infected with corona. However, this is only possible with the consent of the user. AND the national health authority must give the green lightthat warnings can be displayed without an app.
The iOS and Android solutions are fully interoperable with each other and with existing Corona warning applications. National health authorities can also choose to start and run their own custom applications without the express function.
Google and Apple want to continue to fully support warning applications. The new express function will be launched in coordination with the health authorities.
What will change for SwissCovid users?
Nothing at the moment.
We no longer need warning apps?
Yes, you still need it. At least for the moment. More on that in a moment.
The state infrastructure, which allows infected smartphone users to warn others anonymously and securely by entering a key (Covidcode) in the application, is certainly indispensable. In Switzerland, it is the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the publisher of the SwissCovid app, that operates a corresponding system. Cantons are responsible for distributing Covid codes.
I haven’t installed SwissCovid, now what?
No one is required to use corona warning technology. Future use of the express function is also voluntary and requires the explicit consent of the user. This is done through the device settings.
IPhone owners updating to the new version of iOS 13.7 will find the new menu item “Meeting Messages” in the “Settings”. This also applies to devices that do not have a Corona warning app like SwissCovid.
You can “turn on motion notifications” and then you will be prompted to install at least one (or more) of the supported national Corona warning apps.
If SwissCovid is installed, Switzerland will be shown as the “Active Region”. And infected people can open the app with the push of a button to enter their “diagnosis” (the Covid code). And thus activate the alert of “contacts” who were close for 15 minutes or more.
Another novelty is the “monthly update” function which, according to the description, allows you to receive a message informing you of “possible encounters”. This feature has caused confusion in the recent past.
Can you use multiple national apps?
If that’s possible. Although only one application can be set as the “hot region” at a time, the new system settings simplify the parallel use of multiple applications. “Authorized regions” can be added.
If you install multiple domestic apps and add them as authorized regions, you can easily switch between different countries, which is a relief, especially for cross-border travelers.
Do warning apps now work across borders?
No not yet.
But there is a possibility.
Apple writes:
“If you have activated ‘location services’, your device can download keys for the regions you have traveled to in the last 14 days, as long as the other regions have also activated encounter notifications without the need for an app.”
National health authorities would have to give Apple and Google the green light to activate the express function so that everything works without applications.
Lastly, there’s the new “Share Trip Status” feature.
In the description it says:
«Your travel status helps notify you and others of potential encounters. It only shows if you have been out of your active region in the last 14 days and does not contain any information about your travel destinations or location. “
Can this be disabled?
Yes. Corona warning technology built into iOS and Android turns on and off in settings.
Apple writes:
“You can turn off meeting notifications by selecting ‘Settings’> ‘Meeting notifications’ and tapping ‘Turn off meeting notifications’. This will also remove Bluetooth IDs registered by other devices, associated metadata, your random device keys, and encounter notification regions (however, encounter notification apps you have installed will not be removed). »
Important: The express function is disabled by default, so it should have been enabled by the user.
Who is the express function important to?
Mainly for the many countries or governments that have not yet put in place a national tracking system.
Apple is trying to bring in as many states as possible, especially in its own country, the US In most regions there is still no Exposure Notification System (ENS) based tracking app. Apple and Google announced ENS on May 20.
SwissCovid app developers worked with Apple and Google engineers to release Bluetooth-based cell phone distance estimates. SwissCovid was the first application in the world that ENS tested “live”.
Which countries in Europe already have an application of this type?
- Denmark
- Germany
- Estonia
- Ireland
- Italy
- Croatia
- Latvia
- Austria
- Poland
- Portugal
- Switzerland
- Spain
Regarding Liechtenstein, the feature is said to be unavailable, despite the SwissCovid app being used according to an earlier government announcement.
This message is displayed for all countries that have not yet launched a national tracking system that is based on the Apple and Google interfaces. screenshot: watson
And the United States?
Only a few states in the US have published a corresponding app based on the interfaces provided by Apple and Google.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Nevada
- North Dakota
- Virginia
- Wyoming
According to the two US companies, another 25 US states and territories are examining the possibilities of digital contact tracking. The chains of infection have already been broken thanks to technology.
In which other countries in the world is there an application?
- Brazil
- Ecuador
- Japan
- Canada
- Philipinen
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
- Uruguay
On which smartphones does this work?
iPhones with iOS 13.Android from version 6.
This means that the corona warning technology does not work on the iPhone 6 and other older mobile devices.
