Washington state is launching its statewide coronavirus exposure app, joining more than a dozen other states that have already enlisted the use of smartphone technology in the ongoing effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Starting Monday, people with iPhones can enable the ‘exposure notifications’ feature that is already in their phone’s settings, and Android devices can download the app.
The app, dubbed "WA Notify," uses privacy-preserving technology jointly developed by Google and Apple and works without collecting or revealing any location or personal data. By adding WA Notify to their smartphones, Washington residents will be alerted if they spent time near another user who later tests positive for COVID-19.
Use of the app is voluntary and users can opt out at any time. It is available in 29 different languages.
The statewide expansion comes after a monthlong pilot project at the University of Washington. The technology is in use in more than 30 countries and more than a dozen states in the U.S.