“Saqbol” will significantly reduce the risk of COVID-19 contagion

To control the spread of the coronavirus infection and timely localize the infection sites, Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry in cooperation with Ministry of Health of RK presented the “Saqbol” mobile app.  

The app allows a citizen tested positive for COVID-19 enable a notification function and anonymously notify other app users about a contact with him/her within the last 14 days on a distance less than two meters and within more than 15 minutes.  

Storage of records on interaction with other devices will also be encrypted.  

To use the “Saqbol” app, one needs to download it to a smartphone and enable Bluetooth function through which transmission of encrypted data is performed. The app is available for IOS and Android.

According to Bagdat Mussin, the app will enable timely notifying of citizens on a possible risk of contagion and thus, significantly reduce the spread of infection.  

“I urge Kazakhstani citizens actively use the app, be conscious and responsible. Thus, we will be able to localize the infection sites to the maximum and prevent spread of COVID-19.     We comprehend responsibility before citizens and created the app in a way that all personal data is encrypted and the app ensures absolute anonimity of users” commented Bagdat Mussin, Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of RK.

“The app operation is aimed at anonymous tracking of contacts with other devices with installed app. No registration is required to use it as the app does not gather and transmit any personal data or location data. When enabling a notification, the app automatically and anonymously notifies other users. Thereby, the app can increase the citizens awareness and timely notify them about contacts with infected people” added Alexey Tsoy, Minister of Health of RK.

Users getting a notification can familiarize with the recommendations of Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan on further actions in the app.

Moreover, for user convenience, such services as official COVID-19 self-diagnosis bot, i-Doctor, i-Teka and updated COVID-19 statistics for Kazakhstan were integrated in the app.        

The developer of “Saqbol” app is National Information Technologies JSC.