Aarogya Setu app: How to setup & use Aarogya Setu app for tracking Coronavirus

Main Image
  • Like
  • Comment
  • Share

Contact Tracing is the means to track Covid-19 patients as lockdown and social-distancing measures are being eased. It tells you if and when you were in proximity of someone who is infected by Covid-19. Once you know that you’re exposed/contracted, you can proceed with self-quarantine and treatment. Aarogya Setu is the name of India’s contact tracing app.

How does Aarogya Setu work?

The app, which is out on App and Play Store, uses the location and Bluetooth services of your smartphone. When you’re in a hotspot area or in close contact with someone affected, you’ll be notified over the phone.

Theoretically, here’s how it will work.

Basically, once you download the app, you’ll be required to register with some personal details like Name, Age, Gender, whether you’re affected, whether you’ve symptoms, whether you were out of the country in recent times, etc.

Now if every Indian has the app installed on their phone, and has filled correct details, then the infected will be effectively sifted. But, as you may argue this might not be practically possible due to

  • Wrong data entry intentionally or otherwise.
  • People might hesitate to install the app for a personal reason.
  • People don’t even know about the app’s existence.
  • They don’t have the ‘smart’ phone that supports this app.

But, those who can and are ready to install the app must be ready to work with a tiny probability of the other person having the app installed and running. And like they say, any precaution is better than none.

How to setup Aarogya Setu?

1. Install the app from the Play Store or App Store.

2. Open the app and pick the language you prefer.

3. The app will take you through its functioning and features. Read the information.

4. When you’re prompted, accept the location and Bluetooth permissions. Ensure the location is set to ‘Always’ option.

5. Enter your phone number and insert the OTP you’ll receive over SMS to confirm the number.

6. Fill in your personal details like your gender, full name, age, profession and whether you have traveled outside India in the last 30 days.

7. Answer other questions asked as a part of a 20-second Self-Assessment Test.

8. The app will show your health status based on the test you just had. If you are at ‘high risk’ or in a ‘high risk’ area, you’ll be asked to get tested and set an appointment at the nearest testing center by calling on the toll-free number 1075.

9. On this screen, you’ll see the safety instruction infographics and videos. You’ll also see the PM CARES donation option.

ALSO READ: AarogyaSetu Mitr offers free Covid-19 consultations & Doorstep Labs/Meds

Is your data safe with the Aarogya Setu app?

Although the app assures privacy by on-device data processing and storage, it also mentions exceptions, when the information could be sent to the cloud. Government sources have claimed that the medical and health-related aspects of the app are consulted with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare whilst Meity manages the data side of things.

The Internet Freedom Foundation has also voiced concerns over information collection, purpose limitation, data storage, institutional divergence, and transparency and audibility.

According to the report it submitted, the app’s privacy policy “does not specify which departments or ministry or officials will be the ones accessing that data.”

Sidharth Deb, the IFF’s parliamentary and policy counsel, and the author of the report told ET, “the disclosed purpose for the app is vague enough for the government to repurpose it or expand its scope.”

It has also questioned the use of GPS location tracking beyond Bluetooth since the former doesn’t meet “privacy-focused global standards”.

However, the World Bank’s response has been affirming. In its South Economic Forum report, it said, “Privacy concerns can be dealt with by legislating sunset clauses on tracking systems. The region houses many poor and uneducated households that are nevertheless tech-savvy, and the innovative solutions technology could greatly help educate and track contagion across the populations at large.”

Even, Rahula Matthan, partner at legal consulting firm Trilegal has come to the support of the app’s privacy friendliness.

“First, personal information is de-identified at registration so that thereafter the app only uses a unique device identity to identify you, not your name or any other personal information. Second, the information that the app collects— those you come in contact with and your location information—is kept on the phone by default. It is only sent to the NIC servers when you have either come in contact with an infected person or where your probability of being infected is high. Finally, data that is collected by the app, both that which remains on your device and which has been uploaded to the servers are purged on a regular basis.” he told TOI.


Tech giants like Apple and Google have also followed India’s suit in developing a contact-tracing solution (based on Bluetooth LE only). Moreover, their approach will come as an integrated and inter-operable feature with the respective operating system.

But for any of these initiatives to work, citizen compliance is crucial.

Other Covid-19/Coronavirus articles:

Vasan G.S.Vasan G.S.
An inquisitive mind who spends a big chunk of the day keenly tracking every emerging detail and is responsible for quickly passing on important developments to Smartprix followers. He loves to stay in his bubble scripting his destiny involving amazing technology and people with good character, passion, and brilliance.

Related Articles

ImageRealme Confirms The Processor On The GT Neo 6 SE: Check Details Here

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme is gearing up to launch two new mid-range smartphones in its native market and, eventually, in the international markets. We’re talking about the Realme GT Neo 6 series, consisting of the regular GT Neo 6 and a GT Neo 6 SE. Both phones will debut soon in China. As we …

ImageAarogya Setu App absorbs CoWIN app: How to get COVID-19 vaccination info on Aarogya Setu

Aarogya Setu, India’s COVID-19 contact tracing app, will now let you register for the vaccine. This is possible because of the latest integration between Aarogya Setu and the CoWIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Network) app. The latter essentially allows users to get vaccination certificates, information like vaccine drives, and detailed statistics. The integration of the Aarogya …

ImageJio Phones to receive Aarogya Setu App

Aarogya Setu, the contact tracing app of the Indian government, is making its way to Jio phones. The app has currently over 9 crores Indian android and iOS users. NITI Aayog is now planning to target crores of Jio phone users who can help government agencies to track the deadly COVID-19. MyGov India’s CEO Abhishek …

ImageMotorola Edge+ Flagship To Launch On April 22

It’s been a while since Motorola launched a conventional flagship smartphone, but the American brand is all set to be back in action. Taking to Twitter, the company has now confirmed its next flagship mobile launch on April 22 (via online event). ALSO READ: How to setup & use Aarogya Setu app for tracking Coronavirus …

ImageAarogya Setu app to come pre-installed; Feature phone app under works

Indian Government is gearing up to associate with smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Aarogya Setu app on new devices. A source from the Manufacturers Association of Information Technology (MAIT) and another from a smartphone maker has confirmed the news. The Aarogya Setu app with Bluetooth and realtime GPS tracking was recently released to help track …

Discuss

Be the first to leave a comment.