California has announced its CA Notify COVID-19 exposure notification app will be available for iPhone and Android users to download starting Thursday, December 10, 2020.
The CA Notify app uses the Exposure Notification framework from Apple and Google, which allows the app to work in the system background on your phone.
CA Notify leverages Bluetooth on devices for anonymous “handshakes” in the background. The voluntary app keeps your name anonymous, does not use your contact info, does not track your location or movements or identify people you encounter.
When someone tests positive for COVID-19, they can anonymously alert others that may have been in contact using CA Notify, by obtaining a one-time key from state health authorities.
Other nations such as Canada (COVID Alert app) are already using the Apple and Google framework, to help notify others of potential exposures to COVID-19.
California says iPhone users will need to be on iOS 13.7 or later to download CA Notify this week.
As for Android users, they will be able to download CA Notify on Thursday as well. A pilot has been tested so far with the University of California.
As we work together to fight the rise in cases in California, exposure notifications will help slow the spread of COVID-19 and put our neighbors’ health first. Thank you @GavinNewsom & @Google for helping bring CA Notify to Californians while putting privacy at the very center. https://t.co/LbsBQn6zCD
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) December 7, 2020
“As we work together to fight the rise in cases in California, exposure notifications will help slow the spread of COVID-19 and put our neighbors’ health first. Thank you @GavinNewsom & @Google for helping bring CA Notify to Californians while putting privacy at the very center,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook on Monday morning.
While CA Notify is not the end-all solution to combat COVID-19, it’s one tool that can be used to help notify others, should you or someone else test positive for COVID-19.
What does this news have to do with electric vehicles and Tesla? Well, consider it a public service announcement to help combat COVID-19, as yesterday saw over 173,000 new cases reported in the U.S. We want everybody to stay safe out there, especially in Tesla’s biggest market in the states.
