Finnish coronavirus tracing app Koronavilkku reaches 2 million downloads
Helsinki (ots)
The Finnish Koronavilkku ('Corona Blinker') application, which helps to break chains of coronavirus infection, has already been downloaded over 2 million times. The milestone of 2 million downloads - 37 % of the population - was reached two weeks after the application became available for download in app stores.
'We all now have a genuine opportunity to help break the chains of infection, because so many of us have started using Koronavilkku. In addition to this, we must remember to prevent the spread of coronavirus by, for example, maintaining good hand hygiene and safety distances and using face masks the recommended way,' says Aleksi Yrttiaho, Director of Information Services at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
Infection notifications already sent by 218 Koronavilkku users
So far, 218 app users have sent a Covid-19 infection notification. Users can report that they have been infected by entering a single-use unlock code that the application user receives from a healthcare professional responsible for infection tracing. The application then passes this information on to those who may have been exposed to the infection.
The unlock code is only given to a person with a laboratory-confirmed coronavirus infection, which ensures the Koronavilkku warnings are only based on proven infections. The recipients and the sender of the warning are not informed of each other's identity.
Between 1 September and 15 September 2020, 35% of the people diagnosed with coronavirus infections used the application to report the infection.
Koronavilkku speeds up the process of reaching people exposed to the virus and breaking the infection chains. The more people download the application, the greater the benefit it provides. Finland has reached its current wide population coverage faster than any other European country.
'It is easy to be proud of Finns, because here we are setting an example for the rest of the world. We Finns have shown that we can take responsibility together for breaking the chains of infection,' explains Risto Kaikkonen, Director of the Health and Wellbeing Division at Solita.
The app has been implemented by the technology company Solita for the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Also the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela) and DigiFinland Oy took part in its development.
You can download Koronavilkku to your phone free of charge from the most popular app stores. The app is now available in Finnish and in Swedish, an English version will be published later this autumn.
Application information and download instructions: Koronavilkku.fi/en
About Solita
Solita is a fast-growing digital transformation company driven by tech, data and human insight. Our services range from strategic consulting to service design, digital development, data, AI & analytics, and managed cloud services. Founded in 1996, Solita employs 1,000 digital business specialists in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Germany, Denmark and Belgium to help businesses and societies reinvent themselves with impact that lasts.
Inquiries:
Risto Kaikkonen,
Director, Health and Wellbeing Division, Solita,
+358 41 5368745,
risto.kaikkonen@solita.fi
Original content of: Solita, transmitted by news aktuell