New smartphone app tracks users' exposure to COVID-19

New smartphone app tracks users' exposure to COVID-19

A new smartphone app from the Arizona Department of Health Services is hoping to expand contact tracing efforts.

APP -- IS KEEPING USERSINFORMED -- IF THEY'VE BEEN INCLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE --WHO TESTS POSITIVE FORCOVID-19.

IT'S CALLED "COVIDWATCH".

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS --A USER CAN CHOOSE TOANONIMOUSLY SHARE THAT THEY'VETESTED POSITIVE FOR THE VIRUS.THEN -- OTHERS WITH APP --THAT HAVE BEEN IN CLOSECONTACT WITH THAT PERSON --WILL GET NOTIFIED -- SO THEYCAN GET TESTED THEMSELVES.THEIR GOAL NOW -- TO TELL ASMANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE ABOUTCOVID WATCH.

"OUR ROLLOUTSTRATEGY IS VERY MUCH FOCUSEDON THAT TOO ON THE SPREADINGIT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA ON GETTINGGROUPS OF CONTACTS TO HAVEHIGH ADOPTION WITHIN CLUSTERSAND FROM THERE TO, YOU KNOW,SORT OF GO VIRAL." THEUNIVERSITY SAYS NO LOCATIONTRACKING OR PERSONALIDENTIFICATION INFORMATION ISCOLLECTED BY THE APP -- MAKINGIT COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS.VOTING BY MAIL -- HAS MANYPEOPLE CONCERNED ABO