The Swiss Covid App

Since its launch on June 25th some 20% of Switzerland’s population have downloaded the country's Covid-19 track and trace app. But is it enough to curtail the transmission of the virus? Two weeks after its launch, the SwissCovid app has been downloaded by 1.6 million Swiss. 

The SwissCovid app aims to detect further spreading of COVID-19 or a possible second wave at an early stage in order to be able to fight it better. Experts say that, to be truly effective, SwissCovid app must be used by at least 60 percent of the population. 

The app registers when an individual comes into contact with other people through a person’s smartphone location systems and bluetooth. Contact is traced when one person with the app is less than two metres from another person with the app for more than 15 minutes in a 24-hour period. Such contacts are recorded anonymously on both devices. If one of those users tests positive for the coronavirus, the person will receive a 'covid code' from the cantonal authorities.

If you have an iPhone 6 or a more recent model, or an Android 6, you can download the app for free from

The Federal Office of Public Health here: Covid app.

See how the tracing of transmission chains works: