HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Thursday announced that it’s currently conducting a pilot program for a new COVID-19 exposure-notification mobile app.
The app, COVID Alert PA, will be available to smartphone users starting in early September, and will help bolster the state’s contact-tracing efforts, not replace them.
The department is partnering with the state of Delaware, along with NearForm, University of Pennsylvania and MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Internet Privacy Research Institute (PRI) to build the mobile app.
The app will alert individuals of a possible exposure if they have been in a close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual.
“This innovative solution will not replace our traditional contact tracing process, but it will enhance our COVID-19 response and give residents another tool to stay calm, stay alert and stay safe,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said.
“By utilizing this technology, we can quickly notify more people who have been exposed to COVID-19. We hope when this app is available, Pennsylvanians will do the right thing and download, use it and continue to remain alert as we continue to fight this virus.”
In September, you can find the COVID Alert PA app for free to download in the Google Play store or Apple App store. This app is voluntary, but the more Pennsylvanians age 18 and older who adopt the app, the more successful efforts can be.
During a COVID-19 case investigation interview, the public health staff will ask if they have the app available and provide a six-digit validation code that the app user can upload and confirm their COVID-19 diagnosis.
After the validation is completed, the app will use a push notification and send out an Exposure Alert to any individuals who came in close contact with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19.
The app does not enable any location services and is designed to be completely anonymous.
This app will further support the more than 1,200 trained contact tracers throughout the state, including 130 state health nurses and county and municipal health departments, leading and conducting COVID-19 contact tracing efforts.
The department said case investigations, contact tracing efforts and ongoing monitoring are proven public health strategies to contain the spread of diseases and are necessary to identify any instances of community spread and prevent larger outbreaks.
You can find more information on the state’s contact tracing efforts through the DOH Web site here.
“We are very committed and conscious of protecting the privacy and security of all Pennsylvanians,” Levine said. “This app will not use GPS to collect movement or geographic location of individuals.
“Instead, this app will be using Bluetooth proximity enabled exposure notification service technology provided by Apple and Google. It is important for users to know that we are not collecting any personal information with this app.”
In addition, the app will provide users with the latest information on COVID-19 in Pennsylvanian from the department’s data dashboard.
Pennsylvanians are reminded that mask-wearing is required when visiting businesses or in any setting outside the home where social distancing is difficult.
All Pennsylvania residents are encouraged to sign up for AlertPA, a text notification system for health, weather, and other important alerts like COVID-19 updates from commonwealth agencies. Residents can sign up online at www.ready.pa.gov/BeInformed/Signup-For-Alerts.