More than 2 million Australians have voluntarily downloaded and registered for the new coronavirus app, COVIDSafe.
This is a great achievement by Australians who are playing their part to keep themselves, their family and the community safe from further spread of coronavirus.
Importantly it will protect our health care workers, who have also been at the forefront of encouraging people to download and register.
We thank everyone who has downloaded the app and registered and we encourage those who haven't yet, to do so.
We have hit this milestone just over 24 hours since the app was available for registration.
The COVIDSafe app will speed up the work of state and territory health officials in notifying people who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus, quickly stopping further spread of the virus in the community.
The app is part of the three key requirements for easing restrictions: Test, Trace and Respond.
Once installed and running, the COVIDSafe app uses Bluetooth to look for other phones that also have the app installed. It then securely makes a 'digital handshake', which notes the date and time, distance and duration of the contact. The information is securely encrypted and stored in the app on the user's phone. No one, not even the user, can access it.
When a person tests positive they will be asked to upload the data, so the relevant state and territory health official can notify a person who was a close contact so they can take the necessary medical actions.
A determination issued under the Biosecurity Act will ensure information provided voluntarily through the App will only be accessible for use by authorised state and territory health officials. Any other access or use will be a criminal offence.
The app can be downloaded from the app stores. For more details visit health.gov.au
