TraceTogether tokens will be distributed in batches from October 29 onwards

What is the TraceTogether token?

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The TraceTogether token is a contact-tracing device that enables quick tracking of people who have been exposed to confirmed Covid-19 cases. It complements the existing TraceTogether app.

What's the difference between TraceTogether vs SafeEntry?

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TraceTogether — both token and mobile app — help identify people in close contact with those who test positive for Covid-19 with the use of proximity data via Bluetooth technology. They will then be alerted immediately to so they can help curb the spread of the coronavirus.

SafeEntry is a digital check-in system that helps keep track of the people who enter and exit locations so the Ministry of Health (MOH) can spot possible clusters when a Covid-19 case pops up.

If a location is equipped with QR code scanners, you can start using the TraceTogether tokens to check in to the SafeEntry system as well. Here is the current list of locations where you can do so.

How does the token work?

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Users can carry the TraceTogether token in a bag or in their pocket, since it is a small device.

The token exchanges short-distance Bluetooth signals with nearby tokens or handsets that have the TraceTogether app, and this interaction is logged into the devices.

All logs are encrypted and logs older than 25 days will be automatically erased.

If the user becomes infected with Covid-19, the device will need to be physically handed over to the authorities to extract the data needed for contact tracing.

What are the benefits of the TraceTogether programme?

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The TraceTogether mobile app and token, along with the SafeEntry system, allow for quicker contact tracing whenever there is a community outbreak.

With these implemented, the average time for contact tracing and quarantining a close contact of a Covid-19 case has been reduced from four days to two days, MOH said.

Where do I need to use TraceTogether?

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Currently, TraceTogether is being implemented first at locations with large crowds, starting with cinemas.

Following cinemas are locations where large gatherings happen such as workplaces, schools, places of worships, malls, restaurants, hotels and healthcare facilities.

By the end of 2020, TraceTogether must be used to check in at all venues where SafeEntry is mandatory.

Without the token, can I still visit the cinema?

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Cinemagoers have to use either the TraceTogether mobile app or the token to be allowed entry to the cinema. There will be a three-week grace period from Oct 26.

By Nov 16, it will be compulsory for you to have either the app or the token to be allowed entry into the cinema.

How do I collect my token?

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Those who wish to check where the TraceTogether tokens will be distributed can go to the TokenGoWhere website for details on collection sites and timings.

To collect your token, you will need to present your original identity document with barcode.

Members of the public can collect tokens on behalf of their family members by producing their identity documents.

Do I have to use the token if I have the TraceTogether mobile app?

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You can choose to either use the Tracetogether mobile app or the token.

The token was created to support those who may not own a mobile device like the elderly or those who prefer not to have the app running on their phone at all times.

If you choose to use the mobile app instead of the token, the app has to be running in the background with Bluetooth turned on.

Do kids need to use TraceTogether?

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As long as your child is aged seven or above, they will need to use either the app or the token.

Can I modify the token?

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One concern some people have about the use of the token is privacy. In this vein, some people on online forums have allegedly modified their TraceTogether token by prying it open or removing the battery, and some even suggested pasting QR code from another device on their token.

However, any acts to modify the token is a crime.

A Smart Nation and Digital Government Group (SNDGG) spokesman told The New Paper, "Any deliberate or mischievous act to tamper the token is a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act.”

Mr Roland Turner, the chief privacy officer for analytics company TrustSphere, who was one of the experts invited by GovTech to check how the device worked, told TNP: "TraceTogether keeps the information that it collects on the device until you are diagnosed, and purges anything more than 25 days old. This means more than 99.9 per cent of data collected never enters government hands."

Whom can I contact if I need help with my token?

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Users who require assistance with their tokens can e-mail support@tracetogether.gov.sg or call 6973 6511. The hotline is operational on weekdays, from 9am to 6pm.

Versions of this article was first published in The Straits Times and AsiaOne.