The process, known as contact tracking, can go a long way toward reducing the spread of the disease. And precautions will prevent the system from learning the exact location of those involved; instead, the system will track signals from nearby phones every five-minutes and store the connection in a database. If a few days later one of the parties tests positive for coronavirus, they can notify the app that they have been affected and all of the people listed in the database can be alerted.

It has taken a global pandemic for Google and Apple to get together and use their technology for the public good. In a joint statement, the two companies said, “All of us at Apple and Google believe there has never been a more important moment to work together to solve one of the world’s most pressing problems. Through close cooperation and collaboration with developers, governments and public health providers, we hope to harness the power of technology to help countries around the world slow the spread of COVID-19 and accelerate the return of everyday life.”