Users can uninstall SafeEntry, TraceTogether apps; Govt has deleted identifiable data but will retain those used in 2020 murder probe

SINGAPORE — With Singapore moving to the lowest level of the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (Dorscon) framework, people may now uninstall their TraceTogether mobile application, while businesses may do the same for their SafeEntry business app.

However, both apps will remain available on Apple's App Store, Google Play Store and Huawei AppGallery for quick reactivation if needed, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a press release on Thursday (Feb 9). 

MOH said that both apps had served Singapore well during the acute phase of the pandemic by accelerating contact-tracing efforts and enabling the implementation of community infection controls.

Over the past few months, though, as the pandemic situation stabilised, the use of both apps has been progressively stepped down. 

"We no longer require infected persons to submit TraceTogether data, (and) SafeEntry data is no longer being collected," MOH said.

The ministry has also deleted all identifiable TraceTogether and SafeEntry data from its servers and databases.

TraceTogether data pertaining to a murder case in May 2020, however, will be retained indefinitely, MOH said. It was referring to a murder case at Punggol Field, in which the police accessed TraceTogether data as part of its probe. 

"This is especially necessary for serious cases such as murder, where legal applications may be made to challenge the conviction or sentence many years after the case has concluded, and the Singapore Police Force may be obliged to disclose the data," MOH added.

To minimise the steps taken to set up and re-register for both apps should they be needed again, registration details such as name, business unique entity number, and mobile number will be retained in the system.

People who are holding on to the TraceTogether tokens may return these at all community clubs and centres from Monday to March 12.

"We strongly encourage the public to return their tokens so that they can be refurbished and recycled for distribution to those who need it, should digital contact tracing operations have to be reactivated," MOH said.