New PC-Covid version does not need to turn on Bluetooth

The new version of PC-Covid does not require the tracing feature to be enabled and the QR code is enlarged when the information is not hidden. Photo: Luu Quy

PC-Covid version 4.0.8 has just been released on the Play Store for Android devices. Users will be automatically updated or can go to the app store, search for PC-Covid and select Update. The iOS version is expected to be available in the next few days.

A notable change in the new version is that the Proximity Detection feature is set to off by default. Previously, when starting PC-Covid for the first time, the application would ask users to enable this feature, and also required a Bluetooth connection to activate it.

This is a part inherited from Bluezone, helping health authorities find people who have been in close contact with F0 cases to support quick tracing. However, to avoid concerns about privacy and battery drain, the developer has turned off the feature. To turn it back on, users can go to Settings > Close Contact Detection.

In the update, PC-Covid also does not require any permissions and can still be used. Only when the user scans the QR code or wants to save the code to the device, the application will ask for permission to access the camera and photos.

The QR code information hiding mode has also been improved, shortening the auto-hiding time from 60 seconds to 30 seconds. In addition, users can also touch the QR code to hide or show information. When clicked, the code will automatically enlarge to fill the screen for easy scanning, as well as helping users distinguish between hidden and non-hidden QR codes.

The hidden QR code does not display enough personal information but is replaced by * characters and can still be used to scan when entering and exiting locations. To enable the QR information hiding feature, users go to Menu > Settings > Hide information on QR.

For those who have received 2 doses of the vaccine, after logging in, the application interface will automatically change to dark blue, instead of light blue like version 4.0.4. The Center for Covid-19 Prevention Technology said that because most localities do not have regulations on green/yellow/red cards, the blue interface for those who have received 2 doses of the vaccine is recorded by the system. However, this is not yet a Covid green card.

To differentiate, the default color of the QR code is still black, and the logo of each province or city appears depending on the user's destination. Meanwhile, with the green/yellow/red card, the QR code color will match the card color.

According to the Technology Center, in the near future, PC-Covid may add an offline scanning feature, allowing users to scan QR codes to check-in without an internet connection. Check-in data will be synchronized after users connect.

PC-Covid has been available on app stores since September 30 and is being officially deployed in many provinces and cities across the country. Since its launch, PC-Covid has always been among the most downloaded applications in Vietnam, currently ranking 2nd on the iOS and Android download charts. As of October 25, the application has more than 54 million installs (including previous Bluezone installs), 27 million regular users and nearly 30 million phone number registrations.

According to VnExpress