Download the COVIDSafe app

Using the Government’s COVIDSafe app – so that health officials can quickly identify contacts when a case of coronavirus is detected, will be key to preventing another large cluster in Australia’s aged care sector, warns microbiologist Professor Stephen Turner: “Contact tracing is critical”.

The new COVIDSafe app launched in April already has more than 5 million Australians who have downloaded and registered for it.

The new COVIDSafe app is voluntary and a simple step that we can each take to help protect ourselves, family, friends and our community.

The more Australians connect to the COVIDSafe app, the quicker we can find the virus and stop the spread.

The app helps state and territory health officials to more rapidly contact people who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

The COVIDSafe app speeds up the current manual process of finding people who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. This means you’ll be contacted more quickly if you are at risk.

This reduces the chances of you passing on the virus to your family, friends and other people in the community and ensures you get the advice and care you need.

State and territory health officials can only access app information if someone tests positive and agrees to the information in their phone being uploaded. The health officials can only use the app information to help alert those who may need to quarantine or get tested.

The COVIDSafe app is the only contact trace app approved by the Australian Government.

More information about the app, how it works and privacy safeguards in place can be found on the department’s website.

If you or need assistance downloading or using the app you can call the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.