Australia launches controversial COVID-19 tracking app as some states start easing rules

FILE PHOTO: Pastor Matt Johnson of One1Seven evangelical Anglican church wears personal protective equipment while distributing food to those in need, an approved essential service during the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sydney, Australia, April 17, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The Australian government launched a controversial coronavirus tracing app on Sunday and promised to legislate privacy protections around it as authorities try to get the country and the economy back onto more normal footing.

Australia and neighbouring New Zealand have both managed to get their coronavirus outbreaks under control before it strained public health systems, but officials in both two countries continue to worry about the risk of another flareup.