Government to use cell phones to trace those who positive Covid-19 cases have come in contact with
JOBURG – The South African government has announced that cell phone tracking will be used to trace people who have been exposed to the coronavirus.
The government will now be allowed to use cell phones to trace people who have been around a person who has been infected with Covid-19.
Minister of Communications, Telecommunications and Postal Services Stella Tembisa Ndabeni-Abrahams said that while privacy would be ensured, the cell phones of those around an infected person would be traced for testing purposes.
“When we say we are going to use cell phone numbers it doesn’t mean we take anyone’s number. The department of health will seek permission to access the geo-location of those who have tested positive,” Ndabeni-Abrahams said.
Here is what people had to say about this on Twitter:
There’s so many people who don’t work in delivery services or other similar jobs & they’re hiding in this lockdown, they don’t have internet or cellphones and they’re starving. They’re literally dying of hunger. How do we trace and find such people #lockdown #covid19 #coronavirus
— Shoaa Naqvi (@NaqviShoaaa) April 2, 2020
South Africa will be tracking cellphones to fight the Covid-19 virus 😎This is how people who are moving around during the lockdown will be arrested. #PrayForSouthAfrica #CoronavirusLockdown #21daysLockdownSA
— Frvnz (@Frvnz) March 26, 2020
So cellphones companies are giving our data to government to assist in tracking Covid-19.
Why they fronting like they haven't been doing that for other reasons before? We know why RICA exists
— Name cannot be blank (@Graytie89) March 26, 2020
South Africa will be tracking cellphones to fight the Covid-19 virus. This is nonsense. They using it to curtail our civil liberties. Once governments are given power they NEVER give it back. 🤬🤬 https://t.co/CBVU8SDs8N
— Oresti Patricios (@Orestaki) March 25, 2020
Many will disagree, but this is crossing a line we wont walk back from. One day Covid19 will be over, but govt and cell operators monitoring citizens' movements will not stop there. "South Africa will be tracking cellphones to fight the Covid-19 virus" https://t.co/KhlSSFSf6l
— Grant Masterson (@grant_masterson) March 25, 2020
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