Scott Morrison says social distancing will prevail until the discovery of a vaccine

As a means of tackling the coronavirus problem, Australians are being encouraged to download a voluntary tracing app that is available online. Stuart Robert, the Government Services Minister, said the intended purpose for building this tracing app was to curb the spread of coronavirus. Once set up, the COVIDSafe app uses Bluetooth tech to search other nearby phones that have already installed the tracing app.

For the app to be effective, users need to have it running in the background when coming into contact with other persons. It will keep running on a locked phone as well. This tracing app makes a type of ‘digital handshake’ which keeps track of date and time, distance, and duration of the contact. Mr Robert continued to say that all information collected by the app is secured through encryption technology and then stored in the user’s phone.

The digital handshake: It tracks people from 1.5M

This app helps to detect people through their phones by Bluetooth pairing of the phone user. People who have been diagnosed with the virus can communicate with health officials and share vital info about staying safe.

The health authorities can then advise people on whether they have been exposed to the virus or not. 

Privacy Guarantee

The government’s contact tracing app securely protects data collected by the state authority. Third parties are restricted from accessing your data, ensuring a high level of security for your info.

WHO doubts COVID-19 eradication hopes

The WHO has withdrawn an earlier statement of issuing ‘immunity passports’ for recovered patients. News about certificates being issued to patients who now have recovered has been doing the rounds. WHO says that if issued without proper verification, it could lead to an increase in health risk.

Rejection of masks from China

The federal health minister has rejected the use of masks made in Wuhan, which was the epicentre of the virus. Greg Hunt has said there was a high-level agreement that had ensured the steady supply of testing kits, masks, and ventilators. But the story is slowly changing now with private players entering the supply chain.

Asia starts to ease restrictions on lockdowns.

Countries in Asia like India and South-Korea have been affected adversely by lockdowns. These countries have eased restrictions to ensure that economies have a transition time while recovering. The world economies in this part of the country have opened specific sectors paramount for the survival of citizens.

Ease of restrictions in Europe

Belgium has eased lockdown restrictions to allow for the resumption of some services. Hospitals and the textile industry have been opened while bars and restaurants will be allowed to open from June 8.

In France, the government has set May 11 as the date for reopening some businesses. The use of masks and sanitisers will be a must necessity for business reopening.

Partial opening of business in the US

In the US, governors have started to ease restrictions with limited applicability of these restrictions being based on strict social distancing. This to help the economy recover from devastating effects of the health pandemic. The president has assured American citizens of a smooth transition with a budget of $484 billion being advanced to aid during the period.