Singapore will give wearable virus-tracing device to ALL of its 5.7million residents in one of the world's most comprehensive contact-tracing plans

  • The devices will identify people who had interacted with carriers of coronavirus
  • The small devices can be worn on the end of a lanyard or carried in a handbag
  • Testing follows limited take-up of an earlier smartphone-based system   
  • Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

By Jemma Carr For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Singapore plans to give a wearable coronavirus-tracing devices to all of it's 5.7 million residents. 

The devices - which will identify people who have interacted with carriers of coronavirus - could become one of the most comprehensive contact-tracing initiatives in the world.

The small devices can be worn on the end of a lanyard or carried in a handbag.

Testing follows limited take-up of an earlier smartphone-based system and has further fuelled privacy concerns about contact tracing technology.

Singapore plans to give a wearable coronavirus-tracing devices to all of it's 5.7 million residents. Pictured: Men wearing masks in Singapore

Singapore plans to give a wearable coronavirus-tracing devices to all of it's 5.7 million residents. Pictured: Men wearing masks in Singapore

The tiny city-state - with one of the highest Covid-19 caseloads in Asia - is one of many countries trying to use technology to allow them to safely reopen their economies.

Singapore will soon roll out the device, which does not depend on a smartphone, and 'may then distribute it to everyone in Singapore,' Vivian Balakrishnan, the minister in charge of the country's smart nation initiative, said on Friday.

The government did not specify whether carrying the device would be mandatory.

The devices - which will identify people who have interacted with carriers of coronavirus - could become one of the most comprehensive contact-tracing initiatives in the world. Pictured: Commuters wear masks on a train in Singapore

The devices - which will identify people who have interacted with carriers of coronavirus - could become one of the most comprehensive contact-tracing initiatives in the world. Pictured: Commuters wear masks on a train in Singapore

The government's earlier TraceTogether app encountered problems, especially on Apple devices where its operating system suspends Bluetooth scanning when the app runs in the background. 

Balakrishnan said repeated discussions with Apple failed to resolve the problem.

The pivot to wearables is a signal that Singapore has no immediate plans to adopt contact-tracing technology from Apple and Google rolled out last month, which has several restrictions designed to protect users' privacy.

Michael Veale, a lecturer in the law on digital rights and regulation at University College London who has been involved in developing contact-tracing apps, said Singapore's move into wearables presented 'accountability and privacy concerns.'

'Users will likely find it hard to scrutinise what the device is actually doing, or what information the back-end server uses or links,' Veale said.

Testing of the device  follows limited take-up of an earlier smartphone-based system and has further fuelled privacy concerns about contact tracing technology. Pictured: A security officer takes the temperature of a customer outside a mall

Testing of the device  follows limited take-up of an earlier smartphone-based system and has further fuelled privacy concerns about contact tracing technology. Pictured: A security officer takes the temperature of a customer outside a mall

The government's earlier TraceTogether app encountered problems, especially on Apple devices where its operating system suspends Bluetooth scanning when the app runs in the background. Pictured: Residents exercising in Singapore

The government's earlier TraceTogether app encountered problems, especially on Apple devices where its operating system suspends Bluetooth scanning when the app runs in the background. Pictured: Residents exercising in Singapore

Singapore has said data collected through its earlier app is encrypted and stored locally in the user's phone, and will only be transferred to authorities if the individual is confirmed to be infected with COVID-19.

Some businesses have already adopted wearables for contact tracing in locations where smartphone usage is restricted, while governments like Bahrain and Hong Kong have used them for monitoring people under quarantine.

Vendors pitching wearables include Accent Advanced Systems, Kerlink, Microshare Inc and TRACEsafe Technologies Inc, though the companies have declined to comment on potential customers.

David Su, CEO of wireless chips firm Atmosic, said he expected 'multiple governments, if not all governments in Asia' to adopt wearables because they are an affordable and reliable way to ensure widespread automated contact tracing.

A simple wristband with a Bluetooth chip, battery and some memory could cost about $10, or possibly less, according to vendors.

SingaporeCovid-19

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