If users of smartphones loaded with the app come into close proximity, the handsets will receive each other's phone number and record it in an encrypted form. If users of the app are found to be infected with the virus, authorities can analyze the encoded data and identify people who may have come into close contact with the virus carriers.

This app breaks most rules you need to cover to publish in Google play and Apple store.

Google would never allow the release.

Some quote of the day!

Here's another......

The most dangerous ill-conceived political acts, are always considered justified/necessary in the cause of protecting the people wellbeing/health in a democratic society when catastrophe events occur.

The.... adoption of a smartphone app that would allow authorities to quickly identify people who may have been exposed to those infected with the new coronavirus. If users of the app are found to be infected with the virus, authorities can analyze the encoded data and identify people who may have come into close contact with the virus carriers....has all the connotations/overtones, that such a measure could be open to all manner of abuses, in violation of the peoples constitutional rights.  

Test, trace, track and isolate, there are no half measures

@bokuda

It is Apple and Google that are introducing the apps, so I think you can be sure they will release it.

Personally, such an app would be a great idea. A real help to stop the spread of the disease.

BUT, such technology, as usual, will be introduced for good intentions, but eventually become a Trojan horse used by those with nefarious motives. Welcome to the soon coming global police state.

Hello Kitty 321, Not quite,

NHS in standoff with Apple and Google over coronavirus tracing....

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/apr/16/nhs-in-standoff-with-apple-and-google-over-coronavirus-tracing

The NHS is in a standoff with Apple and Google after the two tech firms refused to support the UK’s plans to build an app that alerts users when they have been in contact with someone with coronavirus......

But the policies, unveiled last week, apply only to apps that don’t result in the creation of a centralised database of contacts. That means that if the NHS goes ahead with its original plans, its app would face severe limitations on its operation.

Create a central datebase of contacts, and sooner or later that data be be subject to threats, and attacks through failure of procedures and processes to maintain or protect/secure that database.

Ultimately the persons private information will fall into the wrong hands. Governments are notorious for these failures and date breaches. Also it is open to other forms of abuse by the police and or the security services.

Unless the virus proves to be way more virulent than it appears to be, just the fact that this question has appeared in "main-stream" media is a grave concern.

Where are we exactly?

So having official from labor ministry go to work place check the compliance to the 3C +1 and force company to close with full salary for staff if not and not deemed as necessary or help built up strategy to improve the 3C + 1 if deemed as necessary and grant worker better work condition as compensation - can not do.

Providing subsidies so that shop/restaurant/... deemed unnecessary can close without taking the risk of going bankrupt - can not do.

Testing, track/backtracking, treating (isolation included) every case (and potential in case of testing) - can not do.

Providing subsidies to people which have to quarantine (not tested) - can not do.

Preparing health system to face a surge of patients - can not do.

... - can not do

Creating an intrusive app violating privacy for people to install - can do.

Well, no thank. I let you imagine how many people will forget their phone in locker ...