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SINGAPORE - A contact-tracing smartphone app has been launched to allow the local authorities to quickly track people who have been exposed to confirmed coronavirus cases. Dubbed TraceTogether, the app is able to identify people who have been in close proximity - within 2m for at least 30 minutes - to coronavirus patients using wireless Bluetooth technology, said its developers, the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) and the Ministry of Health (MOH), on Friday (March 20). "This is especially useful in cases where the infected persons do not know everyone whom they had been in close proximity with for an extended duration," said its developers. While use of the app is not compulsory, those who use it have to turn on the Bluetooth settings in their phones for tracing to be done. They also need to enable push notifications and location permissions in the app, which is available on the Apple App Store or the Google Play store. Should one of these users be infected, MOH will be able to quickly find out which other users they have been in close contact with, allowing for easier identification of potential cases and helping to curb the spread of the coronavirus here. On its website, TraceTogether's developers said the app is meant to complement current contact-tracing methods and allow for the identification of people who were in close proximity with an infected person more efficiently. There is currently no target for the number of users for the app. In a release on Friday, the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) said users have to give explicit consent to participate in TraceTogether, and for their mobile number and data to be used for contact tracing. "When requested by MOH, users can send their TraceTogether logs to facilitate the contact tracing process. Up to that point, the authorities, including MOH and GovTech, have no knowledge of the user's TraceTogether data," said SNDGO. Official contact tracers will provide a code that users can match with a corresponding verification code on their app. Once authenticated, users will be given a PIN that allows submission of logs when entered. Official contact tracers will also not ask for any personal financial details or request for the transfer of money over the phone. When contacted by contact tracers, that is the point that users will be asked to share their data logs. If they refuse, they may be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act. On its website, TraceTogether developers said that keeping the app running all the time will not drain a phone's battery significantly. The only data that is collected by the Government through this app is the user's mobile number, which is kept so that MOH can contact users quickly if they were in close proximity with an infected case. The app also does not collect or use users' location data, but only records who they might have been close to. Similar apps have been said to be successful in helping to turn the tide against the coronavirus in some countries. In highly-connected South Korea, for instance, people know quickly when a new coronavirus case is found in their neighbourhood through a government alert sent to their mobile phones. This alert includes details such as the new patient's age, gender and travel history. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/coronavirus-singapore-develops-smartphone-app-for-efficient-contact-tracing

Uncle was probably driving himself to the centre to meet his friends, and he ended up almost meeting God instead. What happened? On 14 April 2023, a 77 year old man crashed his Audi A3 into the Kolam Ayer Senior Citizens’ Centre at Block 44 Sims Drive. Pictures of the incident were sent to The Straits Times, and we can see the front of the A3 wedged between the doorway, and that the impact has damaged the building. Chunks of the doorway were knocked out where the car hit the centre. A spokesman from Kolam Ayer Community Club told The Straits Times that the centre was not open at the time of the incident, and there was nobody inside. Uncle might want to check for dementia right about now. Both the police and Civil Defence Force were alerted to the accident at about 11.20, and the SCDF took the driver to the hospital who was luckily, conscious. I do find it weird the car was able to accelerate so fast it made enough force to take a chunk out of the doorway, which means uncle has a heavy foot or thought it was the brake somehow. Online chatter Some of the jokes made were morbid, but good enough to forget about it and laugh. Others used this as an example to prevent the elderly from driving on account of their degraded motor skills and reflexes. ========= Be the first to get the latest road/ COE news and get first dibs on exclusive promos and giveaways in our Telegram SGCM Community. Join us today!

anyone know where i can get one of these phones for senior citizen? any recommendation? i'm thinking of getting one for my mom. about the pre-paid sim cards, which one has more cost saving for local calls? Jman888, u got any personal experience?