Like many governments, Australia developed a mobile app to help safeguard and mitigate the risk to citizens from the COVID-19 global pandemic.
The Aussie app, developed by the government's Department of Health, is called COVIDsafe. The stated aim is for Australians to work together in a spirit of mateship and stop the spread of the coronavirus.
In common with other COVID apps around the world, the Australian one relies on Bluetooth technology. With Bluetooth switched on, the app searches for other devices with COVIDsafe activated.
Each device logs the other's COVIDsafe user reference code. Suppose you or another COVIDsafe user has had contact with someone who has developed COVID-19. In that case, the app enables health officials to rapidly inform all users who have been exposed to the coronavirus.
App users who subsequently test positive for COVID-19 can consent to their close contact information being shared with the state and territory health department to enable contact tracing. Users who have had exposure to the virus can be easily contacted.
● Identity protection
● Clear consent instructions for contact tracing
● Prompt to delete the app when the pandemic has been officially declared to be over
● Useful COVID-19 information and resources
● Easy to share to social media
The app is entirely voluntary and can be uninstalled at any time. When the Australian government declares the pandemic has ended, they will destroy all information on the COVIDsafe database.
All data traffic between the app and the national database is encrypted and covered by Australian privacy laws.
● It's free
● Multi-language support
● Easy to use
● A pleasant interface that uses everyday language
● Install and forget
● Hinges on users activating Bluetooth
● Complaints that the app consumes a lot of battery life.
● Only applicable in Australia
The app is downloadable from Google Play and Apple's App Store.
To install the Android app, you need only 13 MB of storage space and Android 5.0 or later.
The iOS app requires 44.4 MB of storage and iOS 10.0 or later.
To use COVIDsafe, you need to:
● Install the app
● Register your mobile phone numbers, your name, age range, and postcode
● Activate Bluetooth
● Check that COVIDsafe is working when you leave home or likely to come into contact with other people
Response to the app has not been universally positive. At Google Play, it scrapes a 3.7 out of five. Over on the App Store, the app does even worse with a 3.4 out of five.
One common criticism is that the app is very heavy on battery life. However, this is doubtless because Bluetooth has to be turned on all the time, and your device is constantly searching for other COVIDsafe devices.
Many Australians are also questioning the app's effectiveness at doing anything to halt the spread of COVID-19.
On both platforms, the app is getting almost as many one-star reviews as five-star reviews.
COVIDSafe is an app launched by Australia's Department of Health. You can get more info on the app on its government web page.
