The new Coronavirus phone app, COVIDSafe has been launched to track pandemic infections thoughout the Australian community.
Welcoming the announcement, the nation’s Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy, said COVIDSafe would streamline the process of identifying contacts after a person tested positive for Coronavirus.
“Finding out quickly means you can quarantine yourself or be treated much faster, protecting your family and friends from possible infection, and slowing the spread of the virus,” Professor Murphy said.
“Without this technology, health officials have to rely on people being able to remember who they have been around, and being able to provide contact details for those people.
“It is important to note that only state and territory health officials will be able to use the information,” Professor Murphy said.
“COVIDSafe only keeps contact information for 21 days. This covers the maximum incubation period for the virus and the time it takes for someone to be tested for COVID-19.”
The Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said the app was part of the three key requirements for easing restrictions: Test, Trace and Respond.
Mr Hunt said use of the app was necessary if the Government was to start easing social-distancing restrictions.
“It will be one of the critical tools we will use to help protect the health of the community by quickly alerting people who may be at risk of having contact with COVID-19,” Mr Hunt said. “If you’d been exposed, you’d want to know, wouldn’t you?
“Once the coronavirus pandemic is over, and Australia no longer needs the app, the app and the information on it will be deleted permanently. No virus, no app.”
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said: “Australians are doing an extraordinary job to flatten the curve and contain the spread of the coronavirus, but we cannot be complacent.
“The more people who download this important public health app, the safer they and their family will be, the safer their community will be and the sooner we can safely lift restrictions and get back to business and do the things we love.”
The Ministers said the app can be downloaded free from app stores.
