World-leading COVIDSafe app working and delivering

The Australian Government’s COVIDSafe app has reached six million downloads less than a month after being launched by Australia’s health leaders. The app is helping state and territory public health officials automate and improve manual contact tracing of the coronavirus.

 

Since its launch, the COVIDSafe app has received widespread support and endorsement from across the Australian community, including public health officials, information technology and cyber security experts, the Australian business community, major sporting codes, and every state and territory leader.

 

The COVIDSafe app is already proving to be a valuable tool. In Victoria, a person who had not been identified through the normal processes, was notified as being a close contact by the app. That person is now in quarantine, protecting the community from a further potential spread of the virus.

 

Minister for Health Greg Hunt said the COVIDSafe app is playing a significant role in Australia’s world-leading health response to the coronavirus pandemic, with several countries having expressed interest in learning from its positive impacts in Australia.

 

“Australia continues to be a world leader in testing, tracing, and containing the coronavirus and I would encourage all Australians to contribute to that effort and download the COVIDSafe app today,” Minister Hunt said. 

 

“Remember, as state and territory health officials start to use the COVIDSafe app as part of their tracing efforts, they will only have access to contact information for those people you may have come in close contact with—that is, 1.5m or less for a duration of 15 minutes or more.”

 

Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert said the uptake of the COVIDSafe app and its use by state health officials, demonstrates the app is doing its job as part of Australia’s health response to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

“The COVIDSafe app was downloaded faster than any other Australian Government app and has consistently remained the top free app in the Australian app stores. Millions of Australians are doing their bit as part of our health response,” Minister Robert said.

 

As restrictions ease, it’s important all Australians stay COVIDSafe. It’s critically important Australians know how to protect themselves and others. 

 

Practical steps include:

 

·       Washing your hands.

 

·       Physical distancing

 

·       Using the COVIDSafe app.

 

Do the three and stay COVID free.

 

For further details about the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19 visithttps://www.australia.gov.au/