28th April, 2020
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters on Tuesday that 2.4 million people had downloaded and registered for the government’s coronavirus contact tracing app.
The COVIDSafe smartphone app uses a Bluetooth wireless signal to exchange a “digital handshake” with another user when they come within 1.5m (4.9ft). The app then logs this contact and encrypts it.
Users will be notified if they have had more than 15 minutes of close contact with another user who tests positive, BBC reports.
Mr Hunt said 6,727 cases of coronavirus had been confirmed in Australia, along with 85 deaths.
Twelve cases had been confirmed since yesterday, just one from an unknown source, he said.
“That is perhaps the most important figure I have had the privilege of raising since coming into this role and dealing with the coronavirus issue,” Mr Hunt said. “It means that as a country we are not just flattening the curve but we are consolidating it, extending it and securing it.”
The UK is trialling its own tracing app, with development led by NHSX – the heath service’s in-house digital team.