Japan says COVID-19 tracking app failed to work for Android users

TOKYO: Japan’s COVID-19 tracking application for some smartphone users has had a malfunction since September and has failed to pass on some notifications of suspected contact with people infected with the virus, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

The ministry did not say if the problem, which came with an update of the app, had contributed to the spread of the virus but it said it was working to fix it by the middle of this month.

“I am truly sorry for the inconvenience caused and for the loss of trust,” state broadcaster NHK cited the health minister, Norihisa Tamura, as saying.