More Countries Implement Apple/Google API in Contact Tracing Apps, Including Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia - MacRumors
Skip to Content

More Countries Implement Apple/Google API in Contact Tracing Apps, Including Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia

Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia are among the latest countries to implement Apple's and Google's jointly developed Exposure Notification API in their respective COVID-19 contact tracing apps, available on the App Store.

saudi arabia covid app
Apple released the Exposure Notification API as part of iOS 13.5 last month. At the time, Apple said that 22 countries had requested and received access to the API, with the U.S. states of Alabama, North Dakota, and South Carolina also committed to using the API. Some other participating countries include Italy, Latvia, and Switzerland.

Apple and Google created this API to allow iPhones and Android smartphones to interface with one another for contact tracing purposes. If and when you happen to be nearby someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, you can receive a notification and take the appropriate steps to self isolate and seek medical help if necessary.

The API relies on Bluetooth, is designed with privacy in mind, and is disabled by default. Read our Exposure Notification guide for more details.

(Thanks to Nicolas Oestreich of iFun.de, Piotr Kurnat, and Hussain!)

Popular Stories

macOS 27 on MacBook Pro

macOS 27 Will Mark the End of an Era

Saturday April 18, 2026 6:45 am PDT by
During its Platforms State of the Union segment at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that macOS 26 Tahoe is the final major macOS version for Intel-based Macs. The upcoming macOS 27 release will be compatible with Apple silicon Macs only, meaning that you will need a Mac with an M-series chip or a MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip in order to install the software update. macOS 27 should be available...
macworld iphone 18 pro colors

iPhone 18 Pro's Four Rumored Colors Revealed, Including 'Dark Cherry'

Friday April 17, 2026 3:50 am PDT by
A source said to be familiar with Apple's supply chain today revealed the color options Apple is planning for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the upcoming foldable iPhone. Image via Macworld. The information comes from Macworld, which says the signature new color for this year's Pro models will be Dark Cherry, a deep wine-like red. While other sources had previously reported on a...
Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple Says CarPlay Ultra is Coming to These Vehicle Brands

Saturday April 18, 2026 5:59 am PDT by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly a year later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. CarPlay Ultra...

Top Rated Comments

AustinIllini Avatar
76 months ago
Oh look! The US is behind again. no kidding
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
76 months ago

While a recent poll suggests that 70% of Americans refuse to use a contact tracing app-

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/more-than-7-in-10-americans-dont-want-contact-tracing-data-shows/
Wow, such a privacy minded country. No wonder Facebook and Google are struggling to survive …
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
needsomecoffee Avatar
76 months ago
Germany's code is available for review on Github.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DaveMcM76 Avatar
76 months ago

Whereas in the UK we're still planning to use a Centralised system....
Ah yes our wonderful Track and Trace system that will be fully ready to go by the end of April... erm, we meant May... ok, maybe June... look, we might have bits of it running by September! 🤦‍♂️
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
76 months ago
Beyond idiotic to do this by state only in the US. What’s the Federal Government even good for then? How is a tracing app useful if so many people cross state borders every day.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
76 months ago
Whereas in the UK we're still planning to use a Centralised system....
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)