More than 1.5 million Washington state residents have activated WA Notify since its launch at the end of November.
The anonymous exposure notification tool uses smartphones to help stop the spread of Covid-19 by alerting users who have spent time near another user who later tests positive for Covid-19.
“By using WA Notify, Washington residents are stepping up to protect themselves and our communities from Covid-19,” said Lacy Fehrenbach, deputy secretary of health for Covid-19 response, in a December 23 Washington State Department of Health press release. “The more people who use exposure notification technology, the more effective it is.”
With over 25 percent of adults activating WA Notify, Washington state ranks among the top five states for use of exposure notification technology when compared to the adult population of Washington, according to the press release.
Governor Jay Inslee announced the launch of WA Notify on November 30. The tool was developed by the Governor’s Office in partnership with the state department of health, Apple and Google with leadership from the University of Washington.
The tool is free and can be enabled in iPhone settings or, for Android phones, downloaded as an app from the Google Play Store.
When a user is notified that they may have been exposed to Covid-19, they will be provided with links with information about what to do next to protect themself and others, Inslee said on November 30.
WA Notify will not identify the person who tested positive or where the exposure may have occurred. It works without collecting or revealing users location or personal data.
The tool can now be enabled on the iPhone 6, 6 Plus or 5 once the operating system is updated to iOS 12.5. It also launched in more than 29 languages so as many Washington residents as possible can access the tool.
For more information about WA Notify, visit WANotify.org or the department of health website at doh.wa.gov/emergencies/covid19/wanotify.
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