The United States is home to the world’s best-known technology companies, but so far the use of smartphones to fight the coronavirus has been tepid at best.
Smartphones have the potential to be a powerful tool in tracking the spread of COVID-19. They can tell you exactly how close you’ve been to other people, for how long and keep a detailed log of everyone you’ve been around for the last 14 days. Linked to testing systems, they can rapidly alert you if someone you’ve been in contact with tests positive.
Tech giants Google and Apple have teamed up to build a system that monitors potential exposures while keeping cellphone users’ identities anonymous. Health officials say smartphone apps could play a role in identifying coronavirus cases early and slowing the pandemic.
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