All CAPF personnel directed to use Aarogya Setu app to asses COVID-19 threat

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 4

All Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) personnel have been ordered to download and use the ‘Aarogya Setu’ application on their cellular phones and report compliance to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as part of the government’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Launched a couple of days ago, the App will send automated updates on COVID-19 and alert personnel if they come in contact with an infected person, besides enabling them to assess their risk status by answering simple diagnostic queries in this App.

“All CAPFs and Assam rifles are requested to ask their officer's subordinate officers and other ranks to download this app on their mobile. The number of downloads may be intimated on a daily basis to MHA control room", orders issued by the ministry state.

The CAPFs comprise Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP), Shashtra Seema Bal, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the National Security Guard. Their combined strength is over nine lakh personnel.

Three cases of people infected with COVID-19 have surfaced in the BSF, CISF and CRPF

The Aarogya Setu coronavirus tracker app aims to alert a person if he comes close to someone has afflicted with COVID-19.

The app uses the phone’s bluetooth, location and mobile number to verify if a person has interacted with someone who could have tested positive for COVID-19. The app also offers crucial information like COVID-19 help centers and there’s a self-assessment test on the app which checks whether a person has a chance to get infected unknowingly.

The App uses the government database of health services and infected persons to function. It was developed by the National Informatics Center of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. According to a government statement, over 30 lakh people have downloaded this app so far.

Elements of CAPFs, especially the CRPF are assisting the police in maintaining law and order in some parts of the country. Also, given the nature of their deployments such as border management and security duties, CAPF personnel come in constant contact with the public.

The ITBP is also engaged in running quarantine centers for travellers returning from abroad.

CAPFs have also initiated several other measures for its personnel to mitigate the threat of COVID-19. These include reducing office strength, work from home where possible and suspending leave, temporary duties, non-essential travel and training courses.