California Offers COVID-19 Exposure Alert App

The state of California launched a smartphone tracing app that notifies people when they come in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Californians can enable CA Notify in their iPhone settings or download the CA Notify app from the Google Play Store. The mobile phone app was created in partnership with Apple and Google.

Users who test positive for COVID-19 get a text from the California Department of Public Health at 855-976-8462 with a code they can enter into CA Notify. The code will trigger an alert to phones of people who may have been exposed in the previous 14 days. Any CA Notify users who have been within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more of the COVID-19 positive individual will get an anonymous notification of possible exposure.

The free CA Notify app does not use device location to detect exposures and does not share your identity, location, or personal information to other users. The notification system uses Bluetooth technology to exchange random codes among phones.

Christopher Longhurst, MD, chief information officer of UC San Diego Health said, “This free and reliable smartphone technology can help all Californians. As we enter a new, and hopefully final, surge in the pandemic, now more than ever is the time to put every possible tool to use to slow the spread of the virus. Our pilot experience starting at UC San Diego and expanding to other UC campuses showed this technology was effective in identifying exposed individuals early for quarantine and testing.”