Health authorities in both states have revealed that they have accessed tracing data from the Federal Government’s COVIDSafe app for the first time in order to determine who has come into contact with suspected coronavirus cases.
Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services says a confirmed COVID-19 patient was found on Monday night to have the contact tracing app on their phone and gave permission for the DHHS to use their data to track potential contacts.
NSW has also confirmed that it has used the data, though declined to offer more detail.
Around six million Australians have so far downloaded the app since it was released on 26 April – just under a month ago – or around 23% of the population, short of the 40% target set by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
We asked providers if they had asked their staff to download the app. Some said they had downloaded the app themselves and also encouraged staff to download it, but had no control over whether they did or not.
LASA tells us they strongly encouraged providers and all of their staff to download the app, through multiple reminders in their daily COVID-19 Health Update.
Under the legislation, it is illegal to force or coerce someone to download the app.
But it is clear the app could prove a useful tool for the sector in tracing contacts when cases are detected.
Take the recent example of the nurse at the North Rockhampton Nursing Centre who tested positive last week.
Close to 1,000 residents, staff and members of the local community have now been tested for the virus with all testing negative so far – what difference would the app have made to tracking who actually had close contact with her and isolating them quickly?
We are not saying the app should be made mandatory for aged care staff, but there seems to be a place for many more staff to take up the app – for their residents, colleagues and community.
With restrictions continuing to ease across the country, should the Government be doing more to promote it to aged care and village staff and providers?
