Secretary for Innovation and Technology of Hong Kong, Alfred Sit Wing-hang announces in a press conference today (Nov. 11) that the COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app "LeaveHomeSafe" will be available next Monday (Nov. 16).
Sit indicates that the app is easy to use and can be downloaded for free. Users can check in to certain venues by scanning the venue QR code to log their arrival time and click the "Leave" button in the app to mark their departure. If a confirmed case is discovered at a participating venue, the app will notify users and send out health advice.
Sit stresses that the app sticks to the principle of protecting personal data privacy, and user registration is not required. The app will not activate the GPS function or use any other data of users' mobile phones. Venue check-in data will be kept in users' mobile phones only and will be erased automatically after 31 days.
According to Sit, there are currently over 6,000 public and private venues that have enrolled in the scheme. The mobile app can also be used in over 18,000 taxis, he adds, saying the government would welcome more sectors to participate in the scheme.
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