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COVIDSafe provides valuable COVID-19 statistics in Australia
COVIDSafe provides valuable COVID-19
statistics in Australia
14 September 2020
Tags:
COVID-19 (/taxonomy/term/413) COVIDSafe (/taxonomy/term/419)
Content design (/taxonomy/term/52) Service design (/taxonomy/term/64)
Today’s update to COVIDSafe provides users with real-time statistics about the number of
cases in Australia and in each state and territory.
Since launch, the DTA – with the support of users and the tech community – has continued to
make iterative enhancements to COVIDSafe (https://covidsafe.gov.au/), focusing on
performance, privacy and accessibility.
The Australian community can have confidence that their privacy and security is protected. We
encourage all Australians to download and use or upgrade the app, to help fight the spread of
COVID-19. COVIDSafe works best when it is active. Open your app when you are out in public
or around other people.
We know COVIDSafe has helped the dedicated work of Australia’s manual contact tracers.
It has been used to quickly find and notify close contacts that were unknown to the person
who tested positive.
The iOS update is now available. The Android update will be available in the Google Play Store
shortly.
COVIDSafe now provides up-to-date information about Australia’s response to COVID-19.
In this release, we have started with case numbers. Users can be informed of developments
across the country, while also benefitting from COVIDSafe’s contact tracing capability.
This update also improves battery performance on some Android devices with COVIDSafe.
As with all other releases, we have made the source code available for review.
Update details
COVID-19 Case Statistics
In response to user feedback, new statistics on COVID-19 in Australia are now available in
COVIDSafe. You can regularly access updated statistics about the total number of cases across
Australia, including in each state or territory. This allows users to stay informed about recent
developments, with easy access to valuable user information.
Improved Android Battery Performance
The update improves battery performance on some Android devices with COVIDSafe. We have
worked with Google on a functional enhancement to further optimise battery usage.
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 can compensate for Bluetooth performance variabilities on the mobile
device if they occur. The Australian community can have confidence the app is working
securely and effectively.
We have updated the publicly available application source code for iOS in line with the recent
release. Android code will be made available once the update is available in the Google Play
Store. We continue to engage with the technology community, and people can provide direct
feedback within the
source code repository (https://covidsafe.gov.au/app-code-terms-and-
conditions.html).
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.
Cryptography specification
As part of our commitment to transparency, we’ve also released the COVIDSafe Cryptography
Specification
(/sites/default/files/files/COVIDSafe%20cryptography%20specification%20(with%20protocol%2
0version%20numbering)_v3.pdf). We have worked with our colleagues in our national security
agencies to be sure of the best security and privacy protections for all COVIDSafe app users.
The COVIDSafe Cryptography Specification helps explain how encryption within COVIDSafe
works.
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© 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.
