Aarogya Setu App Set To Cross 100 Million Downloads, Despite Privacy Concerns

Ever since the lockdown has commenced, we¡¯ve been trying to do whatever it takes to bring the number of infections down, and end the pandemic.

Reuters/Play Store

While many have been maintaining social distancing and staying locked indoors to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, Indian authorities launched app Aarogya Setu that helps keep a track of COVID-19 cases in areas near someone while also offering emergency services if they feel they¡¯re showing symptoms.

And today, this app has crossed over 96 million subscriptions across Google¡¯s Play Store and Apple¡¯s App Store and is en route to soon cross the 100 million mark.

Last month it became the fastest app to touch 50 million downloads after PM Modi¡¯s pitch to tell people how it could help the nation stay COVID-19 safe and now in less than a month, it is close to reaching 50 million more users. The app has been successfully able to identify 650 COVID-19 hotspots around the country and sub-post office level as well as 300 emerging hotspots.

Aarogya Setu App becomes mandatory

It is strange to see the app¡¯s download numbers skyrocket while there were looming concerns over data privacy of users, however, one of the main reasons for the rising downloads could be since the central government has made it mandatory for government employees as well as private employees to use the app.

The app is making use of Bluetooth-based contact tracing as well as integrating the ICMR database through APIs it gets real-time testing alerts on COVID-19 positive cases around the nation.

Aarogya Setu

It has a team of 70 doctors and healthcare professionals who have reached out to over 650,000 of those who have revealed COVID-19 symptoms. Over 16,000 people have been communicating through teleconsultation for free.

The app has also proven beneficial in the state of Maharashtra which has seen the largest number of COVID-19 cases across India. The app has helped to identify over 60 hotspots across 18 districts. Out of the total 130 predictions that the app made between April 12 and April 20, each and every one of them has been declared an actual hotspot by the health ministry in a matter of days.

As per a statement by an official from Niti Aayog, ¡°This ability to accurately forecast hotspot is a much-needed breakthrough, the first of its kind in the world, which India will deploy as a powerful tool to fight the contagion and help the world do the same. Aarogya Setu is not just predicting hotspots, it is enabling prevention of hotspots.¡±