India's contact-tracing app grows an API to share health status info with businesses

India has created an API service that allows third-parties like employers to access information about their staff gathered by its Aarogya Setu COVID-19-contact-tracing app. “The Open API Service of can be availed by organizations & business entities, registered in India with 50 + employees, to query the Aarogya Setu …

[Dan 55]

Dystopian nightmare race

There were any number of ways for the health service to tell employers that someone has Covid-19 and won't be coming into work for a while, India decided to set up the thin end of the wedge which can be easily expanded later on to cover what should be confidential patient information.

We all know how opt-in/out works under pressure from your employer. See also the UK's version of the working time directive (while it lasts).

[Pascal Monett]

So, if I understand correctly, now companies in India will check the COVID status of consultants that need to come in and do stuff the company needs and, if the result is not good, the consultant cannot come.

Which means the work won't be done, or at least, not by that guy.

It might look like a good idea on the surface, but the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.

[Anonymous Coward]

"It might look like a good idea on the surface..."

It does?

Alright... well... I'm doing these brain implant trials, call me.

[Anonymous Coward]

anonymous testing?

IIRC many clinics offer anonymous testing for STDs (AIDS, syphillis, and so on) by which one gives a bit of blood and gets a numbered ticket and instructions to call back in a week for results. Presumably the clinics keep stats on percentage of positive results for public health planning purposes. If the object of the COVID testing game is to get people tested and acting appropriately to the results, would not an anonymous option (with faster than a week turnaround) remove an obstacle to participation?

[julian.smith]

Re: anonymous testing?

That's not the business model!