The official corona warning app of the federal government is available for download in an improved version. The current version 1.7 was released on Wednesday afternoon in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. With the update, the risk check can now be carried out several times a day. So far, the update has only been done once a day.

In addition, users who tested positively receive a reminder with the current version if they have not yet shared their test result should have. The warning app launched by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in June can measure whether cell phone users have come closer than about two meters for a longer period of time. If a user has tested positive and has shared this in the app, it reports to other users that they have been near an infected person.

22 Millions of downloads The application that was developed and operated by the two German tech companies SAP and Deutsche Telekom on behalf of the RKI, has now been downloaded more than 22 million times on suitable smartphones. The number of active users is slightly below this value because some users have uninstalled the app again or permanently deactivated the Bluetooth radio.

In Germany, a total of an estimated 53 million smartphones actively used on which the app could run. With the current version 1.7, users can now be informed more quickly about possible risk encounters. According to the RKI, the check is carried out several times a day automatically. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the smartphone is connected to the WLAN. The standard, daily risk check will continue to be carried out once a day regardless of WiFi, i.e. via the cellular network if necessary.

A reminder will be given to share the test results Furthermore, two hours after opening the positive test result in the app, users receive a reminder to share the result, if they have not already done so. A second reminder is sent after another four hours if the users have not yet shared the test result. With a click on the reminder, users go directly to the function for sharing their results. The creators of the app are reacting to the fact that not all app users who tested positive have entered the result in the application and thus triggered the digital warning chain.

On Wednesday The published version is the first of a total of four planned updates of the Corona Warning app by the end of the year 2020. In the further updates, a contact diary is to be introduced, in which the users themselves can enter who they met and when. In addition, information about the development of the pandemic should be integrated into the app.

(axk)