On the subject of this pandemic, we should all download and start using our local COVID Alert apps. Many states have them (and they share with neighboring states, I believe). It’s totally anonymous and secure.
Here’s how it works – your phone is assigned a random code. Then, the app uses Bluetooth to look for other people who have the app. If it finds another phone with the app, it does some secure handshaking, so it knows who you’ve been close to. Then, if someone using the app tests positive and tells their own app, it notifies the central server and that sends information to all the users that someone with this code tested positive. Your app knows if you were close to the phone with that code and will notify you that you were close to someone who tested positive.
Nothing gets sent up unless you decide to tell the app that you tested positive. Very secure, very anonymous, doesn’t use GPS, and can help us start defeating this awful pandemic.
I’m posting about it on Facebook, and to all of my various e-mail lists, Nextdoor, and so on. Let’s all join the fight!
The Google Play Store just pushed a notice for the Pennsylvania version this morning. A quick search shows most states have an Android version available now.
Yeah, that’s what prompted me to get it. I’ve been spending the morning telling others to get it and some have said they already have it. Well, thanks for sharing…jeez.
I think it’s a fantastic idea and their implementation if very clever!
Are there any good statistics on how many people have discovered they have Covid through these apps?
The Australian version of this was heavily promoted when it came out earlier this year, but so far, I believe, has not been responsible for detecting any actual cases. However, that may be partly because there’s relatively little here to detect (even in Melbourne). People have been a bit snarky about it TBH. It would be nice to think that a version of this is being useful to someone, somewhere.
I think it only came out in August and I just heard about it yesterday, so it’s slow to get around. Google is promoting it in their Play store (not sure about Apple), so that might help get it out there. You really need a LOT of people running it, which is why I’m trying to get everyone I know (and everyone they know, and so on) to install it.
So, I’d say it’s too early to tell. “Luckily” for Americans, we have a lot more cases than Australia, so if anyone is going to find it useful, it’s us.
But, no, I can’t find any statistics on the number of alerts than have gone out.
Our entire family installed the Canadian version of the app on the day it was released.
I have heard people call into the radio who manage to hold opinions that it simultaneously gives up all their privacy and at the same time won’t tell you who, where, or when an exposure occurred.
The Australian version of the app, which had a number of problems, was touted at being effective once take-up reached [variously] 40% to 60% of phone users. I think about 60% have downloaded it, although not sure everyone keeps it on.
Is there a similar desired level of take-up in these new apps?
There have, as I understand, been very few cases where it has helped contact tracing in Australia, although as has been noted our overall levels are so low, that targeted human contact tracing has been able to be rolled out and has been pretty effective. Interestingly the contact tracing teams started to get under pressure when there were more than about 100-200 people infected, so I don’t know whether you’d even bother when you have thousands per day, and infection rates from testing of several percent.
Right, that’s why this app may be more helpful here in the US. We have thousands and thousands of cases, so targeted tracing is pretty impossible. However, this app puts the tracing into the individual’s hands.
I have no idea what our take-up level is. It’s probably far, far below 40%, but I’m trying!
