Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will launch what he is describing as a new “seek and destroy” contact and tracing app.
Mr Donnelly said it was good news in the fight against Covid and that the “exciting”app would be another helpful weapon in the nation’s “arsenal.”
There have been concerns raised that the new app could be an infringement on the right to privacy as it collects personal data.
But Mr Donnelly promised that the app will not initially collect any personal information and will only be triggered by the user when they suspect they might have Covid.
It will then be able to pinpoint where you were and who you may have been in contact with.
Mr Donnelly said: “The research on the app shows that over 80% of people said they were going to download it and we hope that as many as possible do.
“Once you have tested positive and you have downloaded the app, you then give your permission and the app will then contact anyone that has been in close contact with you and that you have tested positive and that they can get tested themselves.
“It’s exciting, if I can use that word in the Covid sense, but it is exciting in terms of the nation’s arsenal in pushing back against this horrific disease.”
The app, which has more than 100,000 registrations as of Tuesday morning, can be downloaded now - free of charge.
