People will be able to use the new app by scanning a QR code via mobile apps such as Alipay and WeChat. Credit: Yura Fresh on Unsplash.

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The National Health Commission of China has reported that a total of 428,438 people were identified to have had close contact with coronavirus infected patients, as of the end of 10 February.

To help people find their risk of contracting the new coronavirus, China launched a mobile app, referred to as ‘close contact detector’, on 08 February.

The app was developed by the NHC, General Office of the State Council and China Electronics Technology Group Corporations (CETC) with support from other government agencies.

People will be able to use the new app by scanning a QR code via mobile apps such as Alipay and WeChat. Users must provide their phone number, name and ID number to check if they were in close contact with an infected patient.

Close contact is defined as being in close distance, without any effective protection, with confirmed, suspected or mild cases when the person was ill or had asymptomatic cases.

People can come in close contact with someone at the house, work or even classroom. This is applicable to medical staff, family members or others who were in close contact with infected people in a closed setting.

Passengers and crew members travelling with patients and infected cases, with no protection, are also at risk of catching the new coronavirus.

The government has advised people who have been in close contact to stay at home and inform local health authorities.

As of the end of 10 February, NHC reported 1,016 deaths; 42,638 confirmed cases; 21,675 suspected cases and 3,996 recoveries in mainland China.