Japan Outlines Contact - Tracing App
Japan's health ministry is planning to roll out a coronavirus contact-tracing app as early as next week.
The ministry revealed an outline on Friday.
The software is designed to record encrypted smartphone data of people who come within a certain distance of each other.
People who test positive for the virus are encouraged to register their information. Notices will then be sent to other users who came within a meter of that person for at least 15 minutes in the preceding two weeks.
If a notified user reports a fever or other symptoms to the app, it will show the nearest clinic to seek advice.
Ministry officials say to protect people's privacy, the app will not acquire smartphone location data.
They also say users will not be able to tell when they came into contact with an infected person, or who that person is.
