Prognosis
Apple, Google’s Covid-19 Tool Gives Health Authorities More Data
- Companies release exposure-notification system on Wednesday
- Governments are pushing for access to more virus information
A person wearing a protective mask looks at a mobile phone in San Francisco, California.
Photographer: David Paul Morris/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Apple Inc. and Google released their Covid-19 exposure-notification tools on Wednesday, along with changes that will help public health authorities gather more information on who has the virus.
The system -- called Exposure Notification -- helps the authorities develop apps that notify users if they have come into contact with a person who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Users who’ve downloaded the app for their region will be able to update their status if they test positive. The iOS and Android system will then anonymously notify other users who have come into contact with that person.