Italians embrace coronavirus tracing app as privacy fears ease

FILE PHOTO: Commuters wearing protective face masks walk at Milan central station, as Italy eases movement between regions as the country unwinds its rigid coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown, in Milan, Italy June 3, 2020. REUTERS/Flavio Lo Scalzo/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) - Italy, the first major European country to roll out a smartphone app to trace COVID-19 infections that does not rely on a centralised database, has already seen 2.2 million downloads in 10 days, a sign Italians are setting aside privacy concerns.

The government, like those of other European countries hit by the virus, is touting the software as a vital tool to help avoid a second wave of infections. Germany launches its own version next week.