India makes government tracing app mandatory for all workers

Employees wearing protective masks work inside a call centre run by Uttar Pradesh state police during an extended lockdown to slow the spreading of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Lucknow, India. The Aarogya Setu app’s compulsory use is raising concerns among privacy advocates, who say it is unclear how the data will be used and who stress that India lacks privacy laws to govern the app. — Reuters

NEW DELHI: India has mandated that all public and private sector employees use a government-backed Bluetooth tracing app and maintain social distancing in offices as New Delhi begins easing some of its lockdown measures in lower-risk areas.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Friday said India – the country with the largest number of people in lockdown – would extends its nationwide control measures for another two weeks from Monday to battle the spread of the coronavirus that causes the Covid-19 illness, but allow "considerable relaxations" in lower-risk districts.