Explanation

The world’s first contact-tracing app built on the backbone of the API jointly developed by Google and Apple has launched as a large-scale pilot in Switzerland. Dubbed SwissCovid, the tool can now be downloaded by several thousand users that have been designated as belonging to “pilot populations”, which include the army and some hospital workers. SwissCovid is designed to quickly track and warn users who have been in prolonged contact with somebody who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus in an effort to control the spread of the disease. Sign-up is voluntary, and it is expected that the app will be available to the wider public by mid-June, subject to the Swiss Parliament giving the tool the green light.