Ireland Launches COVID-19 App That Uses Apple/Google Exposure Notification API

[MacRumors]

Ireland today released "COVID Tracker Ireland," a COVID-19 contact tracing app that takes advantage of Apple and Google's Exposure Notification API.

The app, which is opt in, says that users will be alerted if they come in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. Those exposed will be able to track their symptoms, get advice on what to do, and choose to anonymously warn others they've been in contact with.

The app downloads a list of anonymous IDs every two hours from those who have contracted coronavirus, letting users in Ireland get alerts as soon as possible. Alerts will be triggered if a user has been within two meters of a person who is diagnosed with COVID-19 for more than 15 minutes, so long as both parties have the COVID app installed.

Alerts will advise people who have been exposed to coronavirus to limit their movements and get tested. The app will not inform users who they came into contact with during the exposure notification nor the place where it happened.

According to the app's release notes, Ireland is employing a three prong approach to exposure notification, which includes contact tracing for identifying those who have been in close contact with a person that has coronavirus, COVID check-in for those with coronavirus to share their symptoms and how they feel, and updates and information such as the latest facts and figures on coronavirus in Ireland.

As with all apps that use the Exposure Notification API, usage is opt-in and privacy is a focus. Even after opting in, choosing to share a coronavirus diagnosis is also optional. All data collected is stored on the device itself, and name, location, and movements are not tracked.

In a statement to Ireland's The Journal, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that the app could be a "really powerful part of the toolkit" for fighting coronavirus.

"It allows every single person to play an extra part. It will allow us to get on with contact tracing in a matter of hours, it will allow people who have the app to completely control their own data, there will be no centralisation of data," Donnolly said.

"The people themselves can choose if they want to anonymously share with close contacts that they have tested positive. It's a very, very powerful tool. We'll be getting into more of the detail tomorrow and we'll be really encouraging as many people as possible to download and use it."

Along with Ireland, several other countries have released apps that use Apple and Google's Exposure Notification API, including Switzerland, Latvia, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia, while other countries, such as the UK, have apps in the works.

The UK did not originally plan to use Apple and Google's solution, but in mid-June, the National Health Service said that it would adopt the Exposure Notification API after all.

Article Link: Ireland Launches COVID-19 App That Uses Apple/Google Exposure Notification API

 

[gretafour]

It saddens me to know with certainty that most Americans would be unwilling to take on a small act of service like this.

 

[calzon65]

It would be fantastic if the opt-in also included a free pint of Guinness

 

[nutmac]

It saddens me to know with certainty that most Americans would be unwilling to take on a small act of service like this.

In USA, masks and exposure notification are apparently for weak liberals.

Although to be fair, such app is missing in action even in liberal US states like California where exposure notification API is developed. I asked California governor Newsom's health representative the status of such app. Her reply was that they have thousands of health care workers manually contact tracing California residents. Sigh.

Anyway, I suspect when vaccine becomes available, the same precedence will happen.

 

[masterleep]

If we had semi functional government at any level, this would be available in the U.S.

 

[nfl46]

It saddens me to know with certainty that most Americans would be unwilling to take on a small act of service like this.

Lol, sad but true.

That's why the aliens won't attack us, because they are enjoying the show from space, Lol.

 

[Sasparilla]

This looks really nice.

It saddens me to know with certainty that most Americans would be unwilling to take on a small act of service like this.

I think it's only 3 states that actually said they'd create an app based on it (and it wasn't any of the big states if memory serves) - the vast majority of Americans won't be able to even try an app using the Apple API unless they went to another country. It is sad their was a misinformation campaign that soured people about the usage of one, but for the most part the ones Americans could use won't be very good (i.e. doing the opposite of things the Apple / Google API did to protect privacy).

 

[Buran]

It saddens me to know with certainty that most Americans would be unwilling to take on a small act of service like this.

We can't. In the country that developed these APIs, they do nothing.

I'm more than willing to do it, and these are anonymous, but all I've got is a greyed-out toggle. No one's willing to step up here and write an app so I can help with contact tracing should I ever become infected and aware of it.

This isn't all on the individual and the stereotypical Republican. Even those of us who are interested are held back.

 

[Caviar_X]

With the USA's numbers out of control, it may be too late for something like this.

 

[Breaking Good]

If we had semi functional government at any level, this would be available in the U.S.

Sadly, it is this. We have no leadership in government at any level here in the United States.

 

[Apple Macintosh 128K]

The US government isn't even in the process of making such an app. Likely too late for it anyways.

 

[Professor Rucy]

Listen to all of you. The API exists, yet you say the U.S. government(s) needs to do something with it. Anything. ANYTHING!

So, what if an app is created by the CDC or a state-specific health department? Do you believe that federal or state law shall/does righteously allows the government to compel people to use such an app?

Since this is what you’re advocating (or the lack of “missing leadership” you’re bemoaning), then why are you okay with the government just mandate the implementation of this wonderful technology now, with penalties of fines/imprisonment for those who don’t comply? And then likewise mandate that everyone over the age of X purchase and carry a cellphone and mandate they maintain a plan?

The one consistency about EVERYTHING COVID is that no one has thought anything through, but we all know what to do with that “knowledge.” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[Rigby]

Listen to all of you. The API exists, yet you say the U.S. government(s) needs to do something with it. Anything. ANYTHING!

So, what if an app is created by the CDC or a state-specific health department? Do you believe that federal or state law shall/does righteously allows the government to compel people to use such an app?

Since this is what you’re advocating (or the lack of “missing leadership” you’re bemoaning)

You seem to be confusing leadership with dictatorship. Real leaders can convince people and don't need to "compel" them.

then why are you okay with the government just mandate the implementation of this wonderful technology now, with penalties of fines/imprisonment for those who don’t comply? And then likewise mandate that everyone over the age of X purchase and carry a cellphone and mandate they maintain a plan?

What are you even talking about?

 

[dmylrea]

We don't need no stinkin' app!

We apparently don't have to worry about COVID here in the US, as the "most informed man in the world" said COVID is harmless in 99% of those that get it!

 

[FrankieTDouglas]

It saddens me to know with certainty that most Americans would be unwilling to take on a small act of service like this.

Why won't Americans allow their government to track their every movement? Sheesh, such a small act of service to let your every move be cataloged!

 

[dmylrea]

Why won't Americans allow their government to track their every movement? Sheesh, such a small act of service to let your every move be cataloged!

Our every movement is already tracked...that's what most people don't understand. The difference is that this would actually be beneficial!

 

[CarlJ]

Why won't Americans allow their government to track their every movement? Sheesh, such a small act of service to let your every move be cataloged!

GO. READ. THE. DAMN. SPEC. The API is impossible to use for what you describe. And this has been patiently explained in these forums ad nauseam. Yet a loud contingent here keeps righteously complaining that it does something that it in fact DOES NOT DO and cannot do, by design. You made a guess about how it works, and then you campaign against the ramifications of that guess you made. But you guessed wrong. The details of how it actually works are well documented and freely available. Go read them.

 

[gleepskip]

GO. READ. THE. DAMN. SPEC.

Diazepam. Works wonders.

Edit: Thanks for the laughs I got from your thumbs down. So wound up you can't fathom taking a chill pill.

 

[obamtl]

Why won't Americans allow their government to track their every movement? Sheesh, such a small act of service to let your every move be cataloged!

The app doesn’t track your movement, nor does it allow anyone to track your movement. Bluetooth is not a GPS system and can’t tell where you are. It can only tell that one anonymous phone was near another anonymous phone. And only those 2 phones know that. Even Google and Apple don’t know which 2 phones were close to each other.

If the government or Google/Apple want to track your every movement, there are much easier ways to do that, by just looking at your Google Maps location data.

 

[Millah]

Listen to all of you. The API exists, yet you say the U.S. government(s) needs to do something with it. Anything. ANYTHING!

So, what if an app is created by the CDC or a state-specific health department? Do you believe that federal or state law shall/does righteously allows the government to compel people to use such an app?

Since this is what you’re advocating (or the lack of “missing leadership” you’re bemoaning), then why are you okay with the government just mandate the implementation of this wonderful technology now, with penalties of fines/imprisonment for those who don’t comply? And then likewise mandate that everyone over the age of X purchase and carry a cellphone and mandate they maintain a plan?

The one consistency about EVERYTHING COVID is that no one has thought anything through, but we all know what to do with that “knowledge.” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

....What?

First of all, strong leadership wouldn’t dictate Americans to do anything. Strong leadership means clear guidance and trust. Getting everyone on the same page and rallying around a singular goal, developing a clear strategy that people trust and believe in, sending clear messaging about that strategy, giving everyone accurate and trusted information, and rallying all the troops to follow your lead. That’s what leadership is.

Since this is an Apple forum, and Steve Jobs was arguably one of the most effective leaders of our time, his words describe leadership perfectly. As he said, someone needs to be the keeper and the reiterator of the vision. Someone needs to rally the troops and have them all marching in the same direction. “When You have to walk 1000 miles and you take those first steps, it looks like a long ways. And it really helps when there’s someone there that says well we’re one step closer, the goal definitely exists it’s not just a mirage out there.“

That is what strong leaders do. Ineffective leaders are ones who let chaos take over the team. Allow infighting, indecisiveness, and lack of a common goal to permeate and poison an organization. And unfortunately that is what has happened in the United States. We can no longer unite around a common goal, and we have a clear lack of leadership attempting to rectify those problems. This blatant lack of leadership has resulted in the COVID-19 crisis that we are facing in comparison to other nations. You would think that we as a country could unite against a true enemy. Our “leader” couldn’t have an easier enemy to unite the nation against. But alas, he chooses to further divide, encourage MORE chaos further poisoning the team.

The lack of any cohesive strategy for contact tracing, or utilizing “exposure notification API” that was literally handed to them on a plate by Apple, is just emblematic of the current administrations disfunction and inability to lead the nation through a true crisis.

 

[CarlJ]

Diazepam. Works wonders.

Edit: Thanks for the laughs I got from your thumbs down. So wound up you can't fathom taking a chill pill.

Not wound up, sick to death of fools repeatedly insisting that a tool will be used for a nefarious purpose that it is simply incapable of doing, by design. If it were in the abstract, I’d simply roll my eyes and move on, but these ignorant fools are endangering public health by running around spreading fear and conspiracy theories. Hey, but chill, why worry about a few thousand more preventable deaths, right?

 

[Marekul]

We don't need no stinkin' app!

We apparently don't have to worry about COVID here in the US, as the "most informed man in the world" said COVID is harmless in 99% of those that get it!

Why do you need someone important to tell you.
These are basic facts that you can easily research and verify your self.

 

[gleepskip]

Hey, but chill, why worry about a few thousand more preventable deaths, right?

No, my "chill" was in context of you yelling, not about the importance of the situation.


Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms contracts COVID-19

“It leaves me for a loss for words because I think it really speaks to how contagious this virus is,” Bottoms told MSNBC. “We’ve taken all of the precautions that you can possibly take. We wear masks, we’re very thoughtful about washing our hands, I have no idea when and where we were exposed.”

I think it's inevitable that everyone is going to get it, unless you seal yourself in a fallout shelter.

 

[BruceEBonus]

Horse. Stable Door. Bolted.

 

[mw360]

nvm