TousAntiCovid: a new application to fight the epidemic

The new TousAntiCovid application aims at warning people who have been close to a person who has tested positive. It also allows you to learn more about the evolution of the epidemic and how to remain vigilant.

A new application, easier to use and more complete

Before the speed-up of the epidemic in France, the government has refined its strategy to fight the virus by renewing digital tools, among others. TousAntiCovid is thus presented as an "enriched and interactive version" of the first StopCovid application, which made it possible to be alerted and warn in the event of proximity to a person who has tested positive. This alert, says the Ministry of Health, must now "allow the user to be screened as a priority".

Simple and effective concepts

TousAntiCovid is based on simple principles. Essentially, the idea is to use your smartphone to "warn people who have been close to a person who has tested positive, while guaranteeing anonymity, so that they can go and get tested and taken care of as soon as possible". At the same time, the application also makes it possible to stay informed about the evolution of the epidemic and the behaviour to be taken.

Development highlights

The new TousAntiCovid application, which will be regularly enriched with new services, brings many new developments. In addition to improved mechanics, several functionalities are now accessible.

These include:

• information on the epidemiological situation in France;
• the updated map of screening centres (DépistageCovid);
• customised advice (MesConseilsCovid);
• easier access to exempted movement certificates;
• the publication of the application usage figures.

A limited and temporary application

The Ministry of Health and the Secretary of State for Digital Technology also specify the technological security principles on which the system operates. For example, the application "uses the ability to identify nearby telephones using Bluetooth technologies and not people’s movements. At no time does it use people’s location, in particular using GPS data from mobile phones, unlike the choice made by other countries".

The principle of the temporary nature of the application is also displayed: according to its designers, "it will no longer exist after the end of the epidemic". Finally, "anyone can decide, at any time, to uninstall the application, resulting in the deletion of all recorded data after 14 days".