Apple, Google Covid-19 tool to be limited to one tracking app per country

Apple Inc. and Google said their upcoming contract-tracing tool will be restricted to one public health app per country to get as many people in each nation using the software as possible.

The companies also released app concepts and sample code to help app developers build programs using the iOS and Android contact-tracing tool. In a statement on Monday, the companies said they would still support countries that have “opted for a regional or state approach.”

The system, unveiled in April, adds technology to the iOS and Android smartphone operating systems that alerts users anonymously if they have come into contact with a person with Covid-19. The first phase will launch publicly in mid-May.