Contact tracing apps: Which countries are doing what

Australia, which rolled out its bluetooth-tracking COVIDSafe app April 26, saw nearly two million downloads in the first 24 hours, a small fraction of its 25 million people. — AFP Relaxnews

PARIS: Several countries fighting the coronavirus outbreak are using – or debating – phone apps that trace a person's movements and who they come into contact with, allowing authorities to keep track of infections and alert people in case of contagion risk.

Health experts say the technology is a vital tool for governments hoping to ease lockdowns amid a pandemic that has overwhelmed hospitals and caused nearly 210,000 deaths worldwide.