A key tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and get Colorado back to normal might be right in your pocket.
The Colorado听Department of Public Health & Environment launched听 on Oct. 25. The new system is a smartphone-based tool that anonymously alerts users who have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
Three days after the launch, more than 585,000 Colorado residents had activated the option on their personal devices. If you haven鈥檛 already done so, you can turn on the option to receive alerts via your smartphone.
鈥淲e are so proud of Coloradans and their swift adoption of this critical technology. Knowing you鈥檝e been near someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 allows people to make the most informed decision about what to do next and protect themselves and their families,鈥� said Sarah Tuneberg, Colorado鈥檚 testing and containment team lead.
How does the technology work?
State officials explained in an听, 鈥渂y opting in, your device鈥攗sing Bluetooth鈥攚ill share anonymous tokens with other users. If another user you鈥檝e been near tests positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period, your app will notify you. If you test positive, you can easily and anonymously notify others that they may have been exposed.鈥�
Tokens contain no personal information鈥攏o phone number, name, location or IP address鈥攁nd they change every 15 minutes to add an extra layer of anonymity, officials explained.
The state developed CO Exposure Notifications in partnership with Google and Apple.
How does the technology help me?
If you learn about having been exposed to someone who鈥檚 tested positive for COVID-19, you can take action. You鈥檒l know you need to self-quarantine and get tested. Thanks to your awareness and actions, you鈥檒l reduce the risks of exposure to your family, friends and your larger community.
You can also听听辞谤听get CU Boulder COVID-19 information听辞苍濒颈苍别.
