Dutch to roll out coronavirus tracking app
Chief of Staff Clarke Mercer and his daughter, Cecilia, 7, listen during Virginia Gov, Ralph Northam's press briefing inside the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, July 14,, 2020.[AP/ Bob Brown, Richmond Times-Dispatch ]
The Dutch government aims to introduce a coronavirus tracking app nationwide on Sept. 1 to help rein in the spread of the virus.
Health Minister Hugo de Jonge says the app will roll out across the country once final security tests are completed and only if the country’s privacy watchdog gives its approval.
De Jonge says the app will help officials “get a grip on the virus and prevent infections” and “the more people who download the app, the better.”
Use of the app is voluntary and the government says it doesn’t store information about users or their locations. It’s intended to bolster efforts by local health authorities to track and isolate people who were in contact with people known to be infected.