Covid-19: MySejahtera and MyTrace apps now linked

MySejahtera and MyTrace, apps introduced by the Malaysian government to help deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, are now linked to simplify user experience. — QISHIN TARIQ/The Star

The government’s two Covid-19-related apps – MySejahtera and MyTrace – are now linked, simplifying the user’s experience with both recommended apps.

In its latest update, the MySejahtera app can now access the MyTrace app through its main menu.

It will either take users directly to the latter app, or to the app store if the user hasn’t downloaded MyTrace.

Users will still need to download and login to both apps to make the services work cohesively.

The MySejahtera app enables users to determine their health levels, identify nearby hospitals and clinics where they can get tested, obtain information on what to do if they do contract Covid-19, and where to get treatment.

Meanwhile, MyTrace is a contact tracing app that uses Bluetooth to measure how long a user’s phone has been in proximity with other MyTrace users.

If a MyTrace user is diagnosed with Covid-19, this would allow the government to track and contact those who might have contracted it from them.

The government launched the MySejahtera app as a pilot programme in early April, to help monitor the spread of Covid-19 by collecting data from citizens through health self-assessments, done in-app via a short quiz.

Both apps are managed by administrators within the Ministry of Health (MOH), with the approval of the National Security Council (NSC).

MySejahtera is available on the Google Play store and Apple’s App Store, while MyTrace is only available for Android phones.

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin tweeted that it will be available on iOS devices, pending some new APIs by Apple, related to a collaboration between Apple and Google on a collaboration to trace Covid-19 cases.

Data kontak rapat disimpan dalam telefon pengguna selama 21 hari secara anonymised. Data geo-lokasi tidak dikesan atau dikumpul. Jika ada kes positif, KKM akan hubungi semua kontak rapat dari data MyTrace dalam telefon pengguna tersebut.

— Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) May 3,2020

He assured that data collected through MyTrace would be anonymised and kept on the user’s phone for 21 days. Geo-location data would not be traced or collected.