Singapore has always been good at adapting to a fast-changing world.
So when Covid-19 came about, we were able to take the necessary precautions to keep the virus contained, through contact tracing and quarantines.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) even pointed Singapore out as a prime example of how to fight the coronavirus.
New measures have been popping up day after day, as the situation worsens around the rest of the world.
Singapore also reported its first two deaths from the virus, a day that many of us had been dreading for ages.
TraceTogether Downloaded By 620,000 People So Far
So, in order to fight against the virus more effectively, the government developed and launched a new app to support contact tracing efforts and identify close contacts as quickly as possible.
Developed by the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and the Ministry of Health (MOH), the app, Tracetogether, aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Singapore.
And it seems to have been received well by the public, as it was downloaded by 620,000 people.
In just three days.
The app was launched on Friday, 20 Mar, and it works by exchanging short-distance Bluetooth signals between phones to detect other users of the app who are in close proximity.
You can find out more about how the app works here.
Singaporeans Are In Support Of The New App
Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, expressed his gratefulness to those who had downloaded the app via a Facebook post.
“TraceTogether has been installed by more than 620,000 people so far. We are grateful for your trust,” he wrote.
The comment section on his post was filled with positivity as well, with many Singaporeans praising the government for their efforts in containing the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, others also left some constructive feedback and comments, like how the app required a Singapore mobile member for registration.
This means that it cannot be used by citizens living abroad who have returned home, as they are using a foreign number.
Someone else also suggested that it should be made mandatory for everyone in Singapore to download the app.
TraceTogether Will Be Open-Sourced
Dr Balakrishnan also said that the TraceTogether app will be open-sourced.
“We believe that making our code available to the world will enhance trust and collaboration in dealing with a global threat that does not respect boundaries, political systems or economies,” he wrote.
“Together, we can make our world safer for everyone.”
Sharing is caring, everyone.
He added that GovTech Singapore is currently working to finalise their protocol reference documents and reference implementation so that others could deploy their own flavours of TraceTogether – each implementing the BlueTrace protocol.
More updates can be found at bluetrace.io.
All of us can play our part and support the government’s efforts by downloading TraceTogether and making it easier to be traced in the event that it is necessary.
The app is available on both Android and iOS devices, and with the simple click of a few buttons, you will effectively be helping to curb the spread of Covid-19.
But one thing for sure, there are many who wondered if this app will go down the route of SGSecure.
Thankfully, it didn’t and showed how seriously Singaporeans take Covid-19.
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