Apple and Google COVID-19 contact tracing apps not widespread yet

Jefferson Graham

The new contact tracing software from Apple and Google is up and running now, but its use is not widespread. It works only in conjunction with official state apps, and most states aren’t yet participating.USA TODAY found just 14 states with contact tracing apps in the Apple and Google app stores: New Jersey, New York, Arizona, North Carolina, Florida, Delaware, Virginia, Nevada, South and North Dakota, Wyoming, Alabama, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania. The New York and New Jersey apps just launched.Some states are testing the software now before deciding whether to go forward. Arizona and California are testing it now. “The purpose of the pilot is for the state, along with local health entities and academic partners, to study the efficacy of the app,” said Dr. Erica Pan, California’s interim state public health officer.Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Oregon, Washington and Washington, D.C., have announced plans to launch their apps, according to Google.Meanwhile, several countries have grabbed hold of the Apple/Google software to create their own contact tracing apps as well, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore and Saudi Arabia.The idea is that the Bluetooth signal from the phones send signals to others who have the apps. If you are diagnosed positive for the coronavirus and you inform the app, messages are then sent to everyone you came in contact with. “If you have been exposed, your app will notify you and give you further instructions,” Google says.The New York app, for instance, says it lets you “contribute to the health and safety of your community by alerting others if you yourself test positive, without revealing your identity to anyone.”The ability to use the Apple and Google software is built into the iOS and Google mobile operating systems. It’s opt-in, and you have to search for it.As Google notes, “you choose to use the system,” which sends randomly changing IDs that get alerted every 10 minutes to and from phones, anonymously.”If you’ve been exposed, your public health authority can notify you,” Apple says.Here’s how to opt-in:On iOS:In the latest iOS 14 update, go to Settings:Look for Exposure Notifications, which is in-between Emergency SOS and Battery, and click “Turn on Exposure Notifications.” Once clicked, Apple says, “your Public Health Authority can notify you of possible exposure to COVID-19.”You then select your country and state. But if the state isn’t participating, you won’t get very far. “Exposure notifications have not been turned for your region,” Apple tells people in states that aren’t working with the system.For Google AndroidOpen Settings:Tap Google and look for “COVID-19 Exposure Notifications.”Turn it on.Look for a state app to add, from the App Store, searching for “Exposure Notifications” and a badge that looks like a red mini-coronavirus. Google says “location” needs to be turned on and approved for all Android apps, which is the tool it uses to allow Google to follow you, even if the Google app isn’t running, through drives, walks and searches.But Google insists government agencies cannot “infer” your location while using the apps.Follow USA TODAY’s Jefferson Graham (@jeffersongraham) on Twitter.

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