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

 

[p--and--t]

Has a date been set for the app being turned on?

Don't get confused about the two totally separate components of the overall system.

There is the app. When you down load the app and install and turn on bluetooth, is it fully functional. It will immediately start looking for other phones with the app and start recording those within a few metres and for longer than 15 mins.

Then there is the "system/database" end. This is the place you send the apps data to if you contract the virus and you are asked to send and you give permission for it to be uploaded. It appears this section has been built but as the order signed by the CMO declares the data is illegal to be used by anyone other than the state medical officers, each state has to design and have ratified by each states privacy commission the processes by which they will access and use the data. This is the bit they are all working on right now - the protocols to be used not to break privacy laws. This is probably only a couple days away but does not stop the app collecting real data the moment you install it.

Your app will work and is working and collect data if you have downloaded and installed it correctly.

 

[gazzab]

My disclosure, I am a medical specialist, been off the front lines for last 3 1/2 weeks, but back on deck on Wednesday. Great to see all this healthy debate. Clearly it is a personal decision as the app is voluntary. In my family I am the only one to down load it, one out of four. The pandemic is an extenuating circumstance thus I am happy to go ahead despite the so called privacy and technical issues. Certainly in the medical world there is an expectation of a second wave, with our preparations so far we will cope and hopefully just a minor bump. I am all for the app, if as the government says it leads to opening up of the economy/some normalcy.

 

[tomlee1986]

My disclosure, I am a medical specialist, been off the front lines for last 3 1/2 weeks, but back on deck on Wednesday. Great to see all this healthy debate. Clearly it is a personal decision as the app is voluntary. In my family I am the only one to down load it, one out of four. The pandemic is an extenuating circumstance thus I am happy to go ahead despite the so called privacy and technical issues. Certainly in the medical world there is an expectation of a second wave, with our preparations so far we will cope and hopefully just a minor bump. I am all for the app, if as the government says it leads to opening up of the economy/some normalcy.

I would like to say thanks to you and all the medical professions and other emergency workers, essential services workers for all you have done to protect the public in this crisis! Thank you!

 

[willclan]

I think this discussion has gone way off track.

The whole point of the App is to assist tracking teams to contact people who may have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid 19. Now it is fairly easy to contact for example, family members or close friends who you have been in contact with. However, it is not easy to contact someone you don't know, such as the person you sat next to in the airport lounge, at a football game or a restaurant. This is the whole reason for the App, to locate these unknown people and stop the spread of the virus.

I am also a medical professional, and my wider family have all downloaded the App, it is so essential to help stop the spread of the virus, please don't take this issue lightly. And as we do know you are more widely tracked by Google, etc, than anyone else. So for the health of you and your family PLEASE do the right thing by all your loved ones.

 

[gazzab]

I would like to say thanks to you and all the medical professions and other emergency workers, essential services workers for all you have done to protect the public in this crisis! Thank you!

No worries TC, we are fortunate not to be in the same predicament as NA/Europe.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I think this discussion has gone way off track.

The whole point of the App is to assist tracking teams to contact people who may have been in close contact with someone who has been diagnosed with Covid 19. Now it is fairly easy to contact for example, family members or close friends who you have been in contact with. However, it is not easy to contact someone you don't know, such as the person you sat next to in the airport lounge, at a football game or a restaurant. This is the whole reason for the App, to locate these unknown people and stop the spread of the virus.

I am also a medical professional, and my wider family have all downloaded the App, it is so essential to help stop the spread of the virus, please don't take this issue lightly. And as we do know you are more widely tracked by Google, etc, than anyone else. So for the health of you and your family PLEASE do the right thing by all your loved ones.

Completely agree. All of my family have also downloaded and running the App.

 

[tomlee1986]

No worries TC, we are fortunate not to be in the same predicament as NA/Europe.

I doubt any of us want to be in this situation of NA or Europe as the medicals have to choose who to save... that is the most tragic part of this crisis

 

[gazzab]

I doubt any of us want to be in this situation of NA or Europe as the medicals have to choose who to save... that is the most tragic part of this crisis

Yes, the ethics are interesting, there has been discussion of this in the medical circles.

 

[jakeseven7]

Yes, the ethics are interesting, there has been discussion of this in the medical circles.

Maybe those who have the app installed should get priority medical treatment too

 

[gazzab]

Maybe those who have the app installed should get priority medical treatment too

LOL, we treat everyone the same. Of interest in my specialty there is a bias in treatment in terms of gender!

 

[tomlee1986]

Maybe those who have the app installed should get priority medical treatment too

Interesting point.. I will treat this comment off handedly... but I think that is a bit playing the boundaries lol... bit pushing the grey area lol

 

[jakeseven7]

I would like to say thanks to you and all the medical professions and other emergency workers, essential services workers for all you have done to protect the public in this crisis! Thank you!

And hopefully we reach our app download target to thank our healthcare professionals with meaning, and help them do their job!

 

[FreddyFattler]

No problem whatsoever downloading and having the app running, with exception of the ATO who apparently couldnt find me if i were standing in their office with a big cough sign with my name on it, the government doesnt need me to download an app to know where ive been if theyre willing to breach privacy laws.

 

[tomlee1986]

And hopefully we reach our app download target to thank our healthcare professionals with meaning, and help them do their job!

According to the media... still only 15% downloaded... as of today (03/05/2020)

 

[Quickstatus]

situation of NA or Europe as the medicals have to choose who to save... that is the most tragic part of this crisis

Not in NA

 

[Quickstatus]

There is discussion in the Prime Minister's Facebook by some who say instead of an app just lock down everyone for 3 weeks.

 

[tomlee1986]

Not in NA

oh thx.. I said North America.. as it was originally posted as that by the original member

 

[jb747]

There's lots of covid data here (Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Australia | Data), including app downloads.

 

[drron]

When I wake my phone the initial screen has a message-
COVIDSafe is scanning to...
Restart phone if this notification disappears.

 

[Quickstatus]

I have not seen that message on my app