Covid Tracking App

[chemgirl]

Canada just released its Covid tracking app and it looks reasonably secure.

The app doesn’t use your phone’s gps, nor does it request access to anything beyond Bluetooth. So tracking works by phones pinging off of one another using Bluetooth. Pings are saved as numbered codes without identifying information. If someone tests positive they are given a key to enter in the app. The app will then notify all of the phones that have pinged that phone over a certain timeframe.

It seems to be a well thought out plan with security in mind. I hope that many people start using it.

What are your thoughts on digital contact tracing?

 

[Missy]

Canada just released its Covid tracking app and it looks reasonably secure.

The app doesn’t use your phone’s gps, nor does it request access to anything beyond Bluetooth. So tracking works by phones pinging off of one another using Bluetooth. Pings are saved as numbered codes without identifying information. If someone tests positive they are given a key to enter in the app. The app will then notify all of the phones that have pinged that phone over a certain timeframe.

It seems to be a well thought out plan with security in mind. I hope that many people start using it.

What are your thoughts on digital contact tracing?

The way you described it sounds good to me. It could be an important tool in helping us fight against Covid 19 while keeping personal info secure.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

This is slightly off topic but not sure how many are aware of this, this is not a contact tracing app but phones were updated to allow it when an app is installed

"Android or iOS update is that the application programming interface (API) that will enable exposure notifications to work has been added. It's not an app; it's the framework within the operating system that will allow such an app to function once it becomes available and if you decide to install it."

Here is the full article:

Have Apple And Google Uploaded A COVID-19 Tracking App To Your Phone? The Facts Behind The Furor

Has Apple or Google uploaded a COVID-19 tracking app to your phone without asking first? Let's look closer at the claim that's spreading across social media.

www.forbes.com

I never update my phone so I don't have it but DH has to regularly update his work phone, still he would have to install an app and I doubt his company will allow employees to do that on a company phone.

 

[Niffler75]

That does sound good. Just wish the UK would get it together as we really need this!

 

[dk168]

I wish we could have one in UK. One had been trialled, however, the results were not favourable; and there might have been issues with breaking privacy regulations etc., etc...

DK

 

[dk168]

That does sound good. Just wish the UK would get it together as we really need this!

Yup, indeed!

DK

 

[1ofakind]

The app will then notify all of the phones that have pinged that phone over a certain timeframe.

And then what? What are all of those people supposed to do?

 

[JPie]

I wish the US would do this too!

 

[Matata]

And then what? What are all of those people supposed to do?

What would you do if you were told you had come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus?

 

[1ofakind]

What would you do if you were told you had come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus?

What kind of contact?
Random 'contact' of someone who passed by a bit too close in a grocery store isle that resulted in ping on my phone....I would do nothing different until I had a reason. I may have had this kind of contact already and I'm not doing anything different.

 

[Matata]

What kind of contact?
Random 'contact' of someone who passed by a bit too close in a grocery store isle that resulted in ping on my phone....I would do nothing different until I had a reason. I may have had this kind of contact already and I'm not doing anything different.

Those are good points. I don't know much about how specific the app is on determining contact. If I remember correctly, and I'm too lazy to look it up, the CDC says something like: 15 minutes of close contact in an enclosed space puts you at risk. So if the app if able to identify who it was that I came in contact with, I could make a sound decision about what to do. Absent that, the only thing one can do is exercise caution as usual.

 

[chemgirl]

And then what? What are all of those people supposed to do?

Self isolate and get tested. Testing is free here and a fairly quick process.

 

[chemgirl]

What kind of contact?
Random 'contact' of someone who passed by a bit too close in a grocery store isle that resulted in ping on my phone....I would do nothing different until I had a reason. I may have had this kind of contact already and I'm not doing anything different.

I believe it was said in the press briefing that it needs to ping for a certain amount of time before it’s considered a contact. So more like standing next to someone for a period of time rather than walking past someone.

 

[redwood66]

Is it mandatory by the government?

 

[chemgirl]

Is it mandatory by the government?

No it’s not. I hope a lot of people choose to adopt it though.

Right now contact tracing is a bit of a nightmare. A friend’s husband was called out of work on a Thursday because he may have come into contact with someone with a cough. Then they isolated his department. It was this whole ordeal. It turns out the client tested negative and didn’t bother to let them know so they were all in limbo until the following Monday. It would be so helpful to have a streamlined way to check.