Germany releases Covid-19 tracing app

The app, which was released this week, is based on a decentralised data storage system developed by Apple and Google and is available as a free download from those companies’ app stores.

Users of the app will be warned if they come within two metres of a Covid-19 case and told about the amount of time they spent near that person.

The system will complement an existing human-run track-and-trace system set earlier this year.

Other countries including France and Australia have recently launched apps to help track Covid-19, although Norway recently closed its app due to privacy concerns.

The UK government is still testing its app, which has been trialled on the Isle of Wight and has a centralised model of data storage.