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Assistance notifications make COVIDSafe easier to use
Assistance notifications make COVIDSafe
easier to use
23 October 2020
Tags:
Content design (/taxonomy/term/52) COVID-19 (/taxonomy/term/413)
COVIDSafe (/taxonomy/term/419)
The latest COVIDSafe update provides assistance notifications to help users make sure their
app is running.
Since launch, the DTA - with the support of users and the tech community - has continued to
make iterative enhancements to COVIDSafe, focusing on performance, privacy and
accessibility.
COVIDSafe has been used to quickly find and notify close contacts who were unknown to the
person who tested positive for COVID-19.
We encourage all Australians to download, use and update the app to help fight the spread of
COVID-19. COVIDSafe works best when it is active on your phone. Open your app when you
are out in public or around other people.
The Australian community can have confidence that their privacy and security is protected. As
we do with every release, we have made the source code available.
Update details
Assistance notifications
This release includes new notifications that will help you make sure your app is working
effectively and help you to address technical issues, quickly and easily. The new notifications
will alert you when your Bluetooth is turned off, or if a battery optimisation setting on your
device is preventing the app from working effectively. The new notifications will guide you
through a simple troubleshooting process to resolve technical issues. You will also receive a
reminder to update the app when a new version is available.
Hide COVID-19 case statistics
In response to user feedback, statistics on COVID-19 cases in Australia are now available in
COVIDSafe. You can access regularly updated statistics about the total number of cases across
Australia, including in each state or territory. With this update, you can ‘hide’ the case statistics
located on the home page, although we recommend you check the updated statistics for your
area when you leave your house. As a reminder, the COVIDSafe app does not track or know
your location.
Privacy updates
We have updated the Privacy Policy for COVIDSafe to advise users they will receive the new
assistance notifications. You will notice a pop-up notification that informs you of this when you
update the app. The COVIDSafe privacy policy is available to download in 63 languages from
the COVIDSafe website.
Software development kit update - Google API 29 compatibility
COVIDSafe needs to remain compatible with Google’s app development requirements. To do
this, COVIDSafe now targets a newer version of Google’s software development kit. These
Android changes will bring security and performance improvements, in addition to enhancing
the overall user experience. Due to this change, when you install the COVIDSafe update, you
will be asked to again provide access to both Bluetooth and location permissions.
Both permissions are needed before COVIDSafe can use Bluetooth. This is an Android
operating system requirement and is not unique to COVIDSafe - other Android apps that use
Bluetooth will also require location permissions to be enabled. Even though location
permissions are requested, COVIDSafe does not access your phone's GPS or use any other
method to check and record your location.
You can find more information on why location permissions need to be granted from the
COVIDSafe help topics. (https://covidsafe.gov.au/help-topics.html)
COVIDSafe is a system
COVIDSafe is a combination of the COVIDSafe app that users have installed on their mobile
device and the Health Portal that State and Territory health officials (contact tracers) use to
identify close contacts. Improvements made to the app and Health Portal mean contact tracers
are better able to establish and identify close contacts.
These improvements compensate for Bluetooth performance variabilities on mobile devices, if
they occur. The Australian community can have confidence the app is working securely and
effectively.
We are currently working on the next update to the COVIDSafe app.
Visit the COVIDSafe website (https://covidsafe.gov.au/) for more information or to
access the application source code.
For media enquiries email us at xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx (mailto:xxxxx@xxx.xxx.xx)
For other enquiries email us at
xxxx@xxx.xxx.xx (mailto:xxxx@xxx.xxx.xx)
© Commonwealth of Australia. With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and
where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license.
