Singapore provides coronavirus contact tracing devices to the citizens

Singapore has begun providing Bluetooth-enabled contact tracing devices to halt the spread of respiratory disease coronavirus.

Devices named Trace Together tokens can be the substitute to the government’s contact racing smartphone app. The devices are made for those who do not own or use a smartphone.

People have doubts regarding the privacy matter and usage of these devices. Ministers have clarified that these devices will not trace people’s movements.

Firstly, officials are providing these devices to vulnerable elderly people who have less or no family support.

According to details, these tokens work with unique QR codes. People are not required to charge them as their battery life is up to nine months.

These devices exchange Bluetooth signals with other nearby TraceTogether tokens or smartphones that are accessing the Trace Together app.

A contact tracing officer will notify the users if they are near someone infecting with Covid-19.

If the users have contracted the virus, the data will be downloaded from the device.

As these devices do not run on the internet or cellular connections, authorities have assured that they cannot access remote data.

The Singapore government has informed that the information collected by the devices will be kept safe for a maximum of 25 days.

Singapore has reported 43,459 confirmed Covid-19 patients out of which 26 people have died and 37,508 have recovered. The number of active cases is 5,925.

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