Coronalert aims at breaking the infection chains: the app tells you when you may have come into contact with someone who has subsequently received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The application serves as a digital complement to social distance, hygiene and mask wearing. It uses Bluetooth technology and Apple/Google exposure notification APIs. However, it does not collect personal information at any time. Who you are and where you are remains secret – and your privacy is well protected.
HOW THE APPLICATION WORKS
Every time you leave the house, you activate the exposure recording function – this is the heart of the application. When enabled, smartphones exchange encrypted random identifiers with other devices using Bluetooth.
Random identifiers only provide information about the duration and distance of an encounter. No one can identify the person behind the random IDs. The Coronalert App does not collect any information about the location of the encounter or the location of its users.
Depending on the maximum incubation times of coronaviruses, the random identifiers that your device collects, are stored in an exposure log for 14 days and then deleted. If a person is diagnosed with COVID-19 and chooses to share the random IDs from their own device, then all previously encountered persons will be notified anonymously. No one will know when, where or with whom the exposure occurred. The infected person remains anonymous.
In addition to exposure notifications, affected users will receive clear recommendations for action.
Important: Information about the persons notified is not accessible at all times.
HOW TO ENSURE DATA SECURITY
The Coronalert App is designed to be your everyday companion, without knowing your identity. Data protection is 100% guaranteed for the lifetime of the app and for all functions.
– No registration required: No email addresses or names are to be submitted.
– No conclusions about identities: When you meet another person using the application, your smartphones exchange only random identifiers.
– Decentralized storage: Data is stored only on the smartphone itself and deleted after 14 days.
– No access by third parties: Neither the person who reports a proven COVID-19 infection nor the persons who have been notified, can be traced – neither by the federal government, Sciensano, another user, nor Google.
Coronalert App is the main COVID-19 application for Belgium, where it is interconnected with the national healthcare system (Sciensano). It is intended for anyone living or working in Belgium, being on holiday in the country or visiting Belgium regularly or for a long period of time.
