6 questions and answers about the Spanish tracking app Radar COVID

It has taken time, but Radar COVID is already in Spain. Although at the moment in the pilot or test phase before reaching all the provinces and citizens to be able to more easily track the coronavirus. A tool that, if citizens install it on their mobiles, will allow them to know a certain state of exposure to the virus, or if they have come across people who have been infected. All with the purpose of knowing that you are safe and determining any type of trace that helps regulate sources of contagion or outbreaks.But how does it work? Is it safe? Can I download it on my mobile? Here we are going to give you answers to all these questions.

Where to download COVID Radar

This is a completely free application that comes both for Android terminals and for iPhone mobile phones. In this way it lands for the two large mobile markets available in Spain and the whole world.

You only have to visit the Google Play Store if you have an Android mobile, or the App Store if you have an iPhone. This way you can find it by its name "Radar COVID", differentiating itself from other coronavirus diagnostic or information tools, or traceability tools that other countries have already launched in previous days. Remember, Radar COVID is the application for Spain.

Is it available now?

Yes and no. At the moment Radar COVID has been launched in the pilot or test phase in Canary Islands.More specifically in San Sebastián de la Gomera An initial way to check that everything works as it should before starting for all citizens of Spain.

Next July 20, all the data collected from the use of Radar COVID in this territory of La Gomera will be analyzed With this it will move on to the next phase of development, opening up to more territories so that more users from all over Spain can make use of it.

Therefore, it can now be downloaded with limitations, but it will not be able to be used at full capacity or with normal use until later It must be taken into account that false alerts can even be received during these days of the pilot phase, which only serve to demonstrate that the notification system works. For this reason, it is not recommended to download it, for the moment, until the areas of operation are expanded and its characteristics are adjusted.

What personal information it collects

Radar COVID does not seek to spy on you or know your location or who you hang out with. It is information that is made clear from the first screens as soon as the tool is installed. Their goal is to keep you aware of the risk of exposure. And for this it is linked to other terminals, but with a system that does not allow knowing each specific user, their location, their email, their name, or any other detail

The app doesn't even require storage permissions or phone control to know details of your mobile or device. It uses a decentralized tracking system that grants random ID identification numbers to each mobile and crosses them with those of the rest of the users. Therefore, people and locations are not identified, instead a kind of random and anonymous profiling is used.

What Radar COVID will ask for is to confirm that you want to voluntarily send your data as a positive person in COVID-19. This information is necessary to identify you as a possible carrier and let other people who may have crossed with you know that there is a certain risk.

Information is sent privately and is not stored. In addition, they make it clear that you will never know what the people and locations behind those random IDs are. Only the numbers that have been associated with the person who has confirmed the positive.

How the application works

Just install it, follow the information screens and activate the Apple and Google COVID alert system on your mobile. All this through the application.Also, you will be prompted to turn on the Bluetooth connection Keep this in mind as this will be the only way to keep the app running.

COVID Radar works constantly in the background, checking all those random IDs that come across you thanks to the Bluetooth connection. In this way, if there is any type of trace with a contact, you will receive a notification that warns you of a possible infection. It will not inform you which person could have infected you or the place where it could have occurred. You are only informed that you have had a crossing and the he alth controls that you can carry out to minimize the risks.

Within the application, a button indicates the exposure to the virus that you have had. It can be low or high. Thus, you can go through the application to read information about it and find out if you have been associated with possibly infected people.

By the way, the app is always running in the background. Something that can suppose additional consumption of your mobile's battery Keep this in mind when using it. There is a button in the main menu to activate or deactivate the application and its operation in case you need it.

If I am positive for COVID-19 can I use the app?

Yes, in fact you should. Within the application there is a special section for you. By voluntarily reporting that you carry or have carried the virus, you can add information to the system and traceability to follow the virus and try to alert people around you or who have had any contact with you.

To declare a confirmed positive you will need a 12-digit code that the he alth authorities will offer you in your report or analysis.Being positive, you will have access to this code to insert it into Radar COVID and be able to send the information to the tool's servers. With this you will help the system to inform all those IDs that have had some type of contact with you.

And if I have any questions?

Within the Radar COVID application there are several very clear information screens about the operation of the tool. Both about its operation and the protection of user privacy. In the same way as all the notices you can receive.

If you have any questions about your he alth due to having received an exposure notice, you can call the number 900 112 061 during business hours 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.