Are you Going to use the COVIDsafe App?

[serfty]

I did research this a fair bit and I decided I was happy to:

Privacy Policy

The COVIDSafe app speeds up contacting people exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19). This helps us support and protect you, your friends and family. Please read the content on this page before downloading.

www.health.gov.au

 

[harvyk]

Maybe I have misunderstood your post. But, once those food places, bars, cinemas, etc, reopen, this all makes sense of course. But at the moment they are not permitted to open (other than those doing food takeaway). I guess that those who must rely on public transport, etc, should use the app, although the buses and trains around my way are near-empty the way that things are and social distancing is pretty easy to follow.

They are not open / permitted now, but no doubt if the app has enough users they will open those things before we have a vaccine or medication available.

Basically they need enough users of the app before they can consider doing that.

 

[drron]

We are almost at the point of elimination of the virus already and only a month or so in. The chances of that happening (false positive) are approaching 10M :1 . Might be a whole more likely to win the Powerball.

Besides twiggy has just secured 10M test kits and the gov is really keen to use them over coming months.

And the test kits Spain bought from China had a false negative rate of 70 % which basically makes them useless and would mean the app would be next to useless.
Besides the stunt Twiggy pulled in Canberra yesterday was absolutely stupid and he has lost my respect.

 

[p--and--t]

And the test kits Spain bought from China had a false negative rate of 70 % which basically makes them useless and would mean the app would be next to useless.
Besides the stunt Twiggy pulled in Canberra yesterday was absolutely stupid and he has lost my respect.

In your opinion, are there any test kits approaching anything near reliable so far? (also interested in the opinions of others here that are in the know)

I haven't read any good reports as yet, but then again I'm not in the medical field, nor been doing research into the matter.

 

[UP4014]

The app does not log your location at any time, only who you have been close to for 15minutes.
Facebook, instagram, google etc log your location.

Does the app use other apps or connect to Facebook I wonder.

 

[DC3]

.... once those food places, bars, cinemas, etc, reopen, this all makes sense of course. But at the moment they are not permitted to open (other than those doing food takeaway) ....

They are not open / permitted now, but no doubt if the app has enough users they will open those things before we have a vaccine or medication available.

Basically they need enough users of the app before they can consider doing that.

I wonder if those who download, but who actually comply with social distancing, will make a difference to the figures/percentages? Is it only going to be those of us who download but don’t follow social distancing (and for 15 minutes) who will get the “handshake” and make a “worthwhile” contribution?

Seems to be the wrong way around to me.

Edited

 

[jakeseven7]

I too thought this might be a way to incentivise the use of the app. However, I think it's an indication of the "good faith" of the government that the new law actually makes this illegal. The app is NOT allowed to be used as a "passport" for this kind of reward. In fact, it is not allowed to be used for any purpose other than tracing potentially infectious people. The "good faith" is shown in that this is entirely voluntary and is protected by law - by intention and not by omission .

Don’t think it would hurt and I couldn’t care less if they did make it a passport to get into Westfields, airports, supermarkets etc.

Think it would be a great idea to encourage some of the laggards

 

[serfty]

Does the app use other apps or connect to Facebook I wonder.

Not in any way possible.

 

[p--and--t]

Does the app use other apps or connect to Facebook I wonder.

Someone who has examined the unpacked code would be able to answer definitively.

But why would it do that? It has no requirement to connect to any other app to carry out its functions. If it did then the gov is lying to us and 5 independent experts in a panel reported earlier on AFF that the app is fine and does exactly what the gov has stated.

 

[p--and--t]

I wonder if those who download, but who actually comply with social distancing, will make a difference to the figures/percentages? Is it only going to be those of us who download but don’t follow social distancing (and for 15 minutes) who will get the “handshake” and make a “worthwhile” contribution?

Seems to be the wrong way around to me.

Edited

It has zero function to any stats. It doesn't collect and doesn't report any stats. Its function is not to add to or contribute to any stats.

It only has a single function - to reduce the resources for tracing persons who have been in close proximity to an infected person and save time and dollars in doing that.

If sufficient people have downloaded the app to give confidence to the gov that another outbreak can be managed quickly and efficiently (regardless of whether an individual practices social distancing or not); then they can remove some of the current restrictions with improved confidence.

It has nothing to do with any "contributions" to stats.

 

[SuePa]

If you buy the new phone, will you need to seek out random strangers and stay close to them for more than 15 minutes in order to benefit from the app?

True, but I'd rather just benefit from the new phone (the app would be a bonus).

 

[tomlee1986]

In your opinion, are there any test kits approaching anything near reliable so far? (also interested in the opinions of others here that are in the know)

I haven't read any good reports as yet, but then again I'm not in the medical field, nor been doing research into the matter.

The reason we hear the Chinese ones the most because of anti China sentiments from western countries, as well as more publicity of such products are faulty then others

 

[Princess Fiona]

In your opinion, are there any test kits approaching anything near reliable so far? (also interested in the opinions of others here that are in the know)

I haven't read any good reports as yet, but then again I'm not in the medical field, nor been doing research into the matter.

The widespread testing that is being done in Australia is to look for viral particles.
This is the PCR test.

They have very high specificity. This means that the false positive rates of swabs are very low.
If your swab result comes back positive then you almost certainly have SARS-CoV-2 virus shedding.

The sensitivity is very dependent on a lot of factors including the timing and technique of the specimen collection.
This means that the false negative rate is variable. If your swab result is negative then most likely you don’t have virus shedding but if it was taken at the wrong time or inadequate sampling then it could be a false negative.


The second type of testing is looking for antibodies to the virus.
They are very specific but as people don’t develop antibodies until well into the illness (days to weeks) they are not useful in controlling spread of the disease.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

It concerns me that any sort of idea exists where a smartphone app could/should/maybe used as a 'passport' to restrict entry to public spaces including shopping malls and supermarkets. Are people without a smartphone not allowed to eat without home delivery until C-19 is effectively eliminated? One of my main hopes post-Covid is of a more cohesive society where people spend more time working from home and bondiing with their family and community. Telling a not insignificant section of the country their lives cannot approach returning to normal because they do not own a Bluetooth enabled device will create schisms lasting for years.

 

[prozac]

Does the app use other apps or connect to Facebook I wonder.

If you think you can meet that girl you were stalking yesterday and see her facebook profile you will be disappointed.

 

[tomlee1986]

If you think you can meet that girl you were stalking yesterday and see her facebook profile you will be disappointed.

I agree with you there.. this app is not tinder or RSVP lol

 

[Pushka]

Qantas Adelaide went into lockdown a few weeks ago because of the baggage handlers hot cohort. From a Qantas rep I was told that 19 tested positive and they were one of 750 put into quarantine and who later tested negative. At a staff meeting yesterday I heard they were told that had the App been available back when their issue arose then those 750 people would not be put into quarantine but they could have identified those most at risk. Their relative who did develop Covid was quite ill for 2 weeks with intense fever and diarrhea and lost of taste and smell. In his forties. He has recovered completely and didn't require hospital treatment.

 

[tomlee1986]

Qantas Adelaide went into lockdown a few weeks ago because of the baggage handlers hot cohort. From a Qantas rep I was told that 19 tested positive and they were one of 750 put into quarantine and who later tested negative. At a staff meeting yesterday I heard they were told that had the App been available back when their issue arose then those 750 people would not be put into quarantine but they could have identified those most at risk. Their relative who did develop Covid was quite ill for 2 weeks with intense fever and diarrhea and lost of taste and smell. In his forties. He has recovered completely and didn't require hospital treatment.

That app would have been useful, but the problem still would have been those that are asymptomatic - that would have still have spread... but I agree the chances of contacting those at risk would be quicker than before

 

[Pushka]

It concerns me that any sort of idea exists where a smartphone app could/should/maybe used as a 'passport' to restrict entry to public spaces including shopping malls and supermarkets. Are people without a smartphone not allowed to eat without home delivery until C-19 is effectively eliminated? One of my main hopes post-Covid is of a more cohesive society where people spend more time working from home and bondiing with their family and community. Telling a not insignificant section of the country their lives cannot approach returning to normal because they do not own a Bluetooth enabled device will create schisms lasting for years.

I agree with you there. Just as some have proposed that an antibody test be required for free entry in and out of countries. Chicken pox parties comes to mind.

I think there will be more working from home for some industries but not in ours so much. And not in our sons employment either.

 

[p--and--t]

It concerns me that any sort of idea exists where a smartphone app could/should/maybe used as a 'passport' to restrict entry to public spaces including shopping malls and supermarkets. Are people without a smartphone not allowed to eat without home delivery until C-19 is effectively eliminated? One of my main hopes post-Covid is of a more cohesive society where people spend more time working from home and bonding with their family and community. Telling a not insignificant section of the country their lives cannot approach returning to normal because they do not own a Bluetooth enabled device will create schisms lasting for years.

AFAIK, there has been no talk by authorities in AU and most other countries to introduce such functionality.

Not even Singapore has done that.

The only places I am aware of (possibly more) that have done anything close to that are China (and its two territories Hong Kong and Macau) and South Korea.

It seems the current AU model's principles, which is very privacy protective, is intended to be used in a few democratic western countries.

Phone scans, GPS tracking and wristbands: How other countries do COVID-19 contact tracing

Australia is not the only country where COVID-19 tracing technology is raising privacy and functionality concerns. Here's how digital contact tracing is working around the world.

www.abc.net.au

Will COVIDSafe keep your data secure? Here's what the experts say

Technical and legal experts are digging into the Government's new contact tracing app, raising questions about security and legal protections.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pushka]

That app would have been useful, but the problem still would have been those that are asymptomatic - that would have still have spread... but I agree the chances of contacting those at risk would be quicker than before

Their first catch would be to test first degree contacts with positive Covid people. Test those all regardless. Then extend that to second degree contacts - contacts of those people, whether or not they were symptomatic or negative. Certainly would not have required 750 people to have been stood down.