Nate Wardle, Department of Health Press Secretary offered clarifying details to the launch of the the new APP launched by DOH.
- Who manages the data from the app and where will the data live?
Self-reported symptom check-in data and in-app performance metrics data is collected via NearForm, but the data is managed by the DOH. When the app is released more information on the Data and Privacy Policy will be provided.
- Will location data be used in the case investigation process? Will the app be able to say someone was at a restaurant within 14 days of symptoms?
The app does not enable any location services, therefore it does not collect any location information. The app cannot identify individuals and cannot say if anyone was at a particular location with or without symptoms.
- How much is the project going to cost?
The total cost of the project involving the app is $1.9 million over 2 years. Funding comes from the CDC ELC grant.
- Is their geolocating software that matches the individuals, or how does it work if location is not being stored?
Existing manual contact tracing processes rely on an individual being able to remember who they have been in contact with recently, and for how long. In many cases a positive COVID-19 individual may not even know those people (for example, if the contact happened on a bus or train, at a check-out line in a grocery store, a restaurant or some other public venue). The app uses Exposure Notification System technology developed by Apple and Google where if an app user is close to someone (who also uses the app on their phone), and then if one of them subsequently receive a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, they will receive a call from the Department of Health or County and Municipal Health Department’s (CMHD) case investigators within 24-72 hours.
The case investigators will ask if the positive COVID-19 individual is willing to accept a 6-digit validation code from the DOH. If the individual agrees and enters the 6 digit code, it will permit the phone to upload their last 14 days of the random Bluetooth interactions with other app users who were within the exposure criteria (if this individual stayed in close proximity (within six feet) to someone with the app for 15 minutes or more. If there is a match, then the app will notify the close contact letting them know they came in close contact with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19. This is called an “Exposure Alert”. We recommend watching this video: https://youtu.be/1Cz2Xzm6knM
