The StopCovid application intended to limit the proliferation of the virus on French soil is now available for free download from the Play Store. Although its use is not compulsory, it is however strongly recommended by the public authorities. This tool could help prevent a second wave of coronavirus..
How StopCovid works
We are living in a very special time. Since the appearance of the coronavirus in late 2019 in China, several countries in the world have been subjected to total or partial containment. The movements of millions of citizens have been limited in order to stem the circulation of the virus.
To prevent a possible return of the epidemic, the public authorities have just unveiled the StopCovid application. The purpose of this tracking system is to track our movements and to be warned in the event of contact with a contaminated person, including in the case of strangers..
Once installed on your smartphone, StopCovid automatically saves the identifier (data anonymized using an encryption method) of all other users of the application located within a radius of less than one meter from you, for at least 15 minutes.
If one of the owners equipped with the StopCovid application is diagnosed positive for the coronavirus, his doctor will provide him with a QR code to scan with his smartphone. All the people he has encountered during the last 15 days will receive a notification so that they can be tested..
Important detail, its use is done on a voluntary basis. Unlike other countries, notably in Asia, the installation and use of the StopCovid application is not compulsory. Smartphones equipped with StopCovid are detected via the Bluetooth connection and not the GPS data. The application therefore does not geotag people.
Download and configure the StopCovid application
Do you have an Android smartphone and want to install the StopCovid application on your device? Nothing's easier. The latter is available for free download from the Google app store.
- Open the Google Play Store
- In the search bar type StopCovid or click on the link (if you are viewing this tutorial from your smartphone)
- Click on the install button to start downloading the tracking tool
- Open the app
- Click on the button I want to participate to start the automatic recording of the other owners of the application being around you within a radius of less than one meter
- A guide quickly explains how the application works
- Press the continue button when the reading is finished
- Then accept the terms of use
- The application will then ask you to allow it to use certain specific functionalities of the device (Bluetooth contact and device location)
- You must accept these two permissions
- StopCovid app should work even when your phone is in standby
- You will have to deactivate the battery optimization tools for StopCovid by clicking on the accept button.
- Finally, don't forget to authorize the application to access your notifications. This will allow you to be warned when you meet a person carrying the virus.
- Click the finish button to end the configuration process
The StopCovid application is now activated on your smartphone. Please note that the Bluetooth wireless connection remains active even when the screen of your smartphone is turned off. StopCovid performs tasks in the background. This may shorten the life of your phone.
When you are at home, you can put the tracking tool to sleep by clicking on the button I deactivate StopCovid. 
You just have to think before going out to reactivate it. A small icon in the Android status bar (at the top of the screen) tells you if the application is active or not.
