Well, yes. As an individual you have to opt-in (which covers the majority of points there). What process then applies is down your government/health service (do you get a test or just isolated?) On the last point, this is just one method of contact tracing. It would be used in conjunction with other more manual methods.
@Jamze I fully agree, the list can be consolidated into âopt-inâ. The underlying point is our human behavior. There will be very good intentions but when it comes to carrying through that will be the downfall. Without incentive I just donât see this plan moving forward.
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They raise some convincing points about using the data to help make decisions however dealing with privacy, participation, and battery life remain major issues.
Quest Diagnostics announced that any person who wants to get an antibody test for COVID-19 can purchase one online, without having to go to the doctorâs office, as the country pushes to broaden screening for the virus.
The test, which costs $119, is available through Questâs direct-to-consumer business and can be purchased at GetQuestTest.com.
iPhone beta 13.5 adds Covid-19 tracking capability. And, Face ID knows you have a mask on and defaults to PIN entry.
Bruce Schneier has posted an interesting set of observations about the trustability of any contact tracing apps
https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2020/05/me_on_covad-19_.html
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Gâday Pommster. Since you have said you have installed the CovidSafe app, maybe you can clear up a mystery for me. Everyday, I get at least 2 notifications from the app. When I click on the notification, it simply brings up the front page of the app. Any idea why I get the notification?
Also, the app instructions say keep the app ârunningâ. Any idea what that means? Always on the display of the phone, always open in the background, phone always unlocked and screen lit?
I have queried the developers, and get the very nice automatic response referencing the very clear instructions to âkeep the app runningâ.
I think background refresh is all you need. The notification may well be part of keeping the app alive. I donât know how iPhone works with background apps. Itâs pretty impractical to keep your phone display on all the time. The app also says to keep the app running in power saver mode - this could be worded better; it means to add it as an exception in power saver mode as power saver mode usually kills all background apps.
The app in iOS is probably not as good as Android due to Appleâs power saving routines, but background refresh is probably the best it can do without redesigning it to use Appleâs new API for this (which could still happen).
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I believe I read somewhere the app was developed in a way that they could update it to use Appleâs new feature easily.
Interesting to note my iPhone now has the Apple COVID-19 tracking feature, and it is enabled by default. Also now defaults to PIN unlock if I have a face mask on.
I initially followed the advice about background refresh. I was really surprised to find every app on my iPhone had background refresh enabled, as I never check this.
I figured as much. I posted elsewhere that the iOS app feels like a placebo/placeholder for when Appleâs API becomes available as they could not possibly release the Android app and not the iOS app at the same time 
Are you on the iOS 13.5 beta release? I donât have the Apple COVID stuff yet - Iâm on 13.4.1.
Yes, I am on 13.5.
Have you gotten the same notifications?
Yes Iâve had the same notifications from the app. I just ignore it as it doesnât make any noise. I just figure itâs there as a reminder and make background refresh a bit more reliable.
Just found an article from the ABC on this subject. Here is part of the article
"The software works best when the iPhone is unlocked and the app is open on the screen, according to the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA), which oversees the project.
A DTA spokesperson admitted there were limitations to Bluetooth functionality when an app was running in the background on an iPhone.
âWhen [an app] is running in the background, there may be some variability in the digital handshakes on iOS devices,â he said, or its ability to exchange signals with other apps on iOS.
An app is foregrounded when the phone is unlocked and the app is open on the screen, according to the DTA. The background refers to when you switch from using the app to another app or when the phone is locked.
This technical limitation could affect the appâs ability to pick up close contacts, and so reduce its usefulness to the contact-tracing process as Australia relaxes lockdown measures.
During testing, Ms Glenn said her team found âmixedâ performance on iPhones when the app was in the background â or running but not the app that was in view.
Appleâs iOS typically prevent third-party apps from running in the background and broadcasting Bluetooth signals â a security rule that meant Singaporeâs TraceTogether app, on which COVIDSafe is modelled, also worked best on an unlocked iPhone."
So I guess we iPhone users need to unlock our phones and walk around with the app on the screen all the time.
Hmmm. Schneider seems to have missed the point that the smartphone-based tracking approach is used in conjunction with many other measures (including conventional contact-tracing). As with all the measures we are using, unless they actually have a negative impact (i.e. they increase the infection rate) then they are worth doing. It all helps.
âSimilarly, assume you take the app out grocery shopping and it doesnât alert you of any contact. Are you in the clear? No, youâre not. You actually have no idea if youâve been infected.â
This statement was a concern. You should never assume âyou are in the clearâ during a global pandemic, app or no app.
Yes, it is not the best when running in background, but will poll. Which makes me think more that it will get updated to use Applesâs API. They just couldnât say iPhone users need to wait.
@Pommster and @Bgeeoz. If your app sends you a notification saying youâve been in contact with someone, what do they recommend in Australia? Is it 2 weeks isolation and monitor for symptoms, or have you got tests available to the general public?
As a former bus driver in UK, I was sat in a plexiglass box for 5 hour shifts, so people couldnât punch me in the face! But they couldnât here me cuss either.
Company issued snood, btw I work from home and never see my Field colleagues. When lockdown is removed, and weâre allowed to return to work, Iâll just go to my back bedroom as I always do and carry on as normal.
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The policy to date if you are identified as exposed is 14 days quarantine at home, with informal monitoring by police (unannounced visits and or calls to verify you are remaining at home.
It is not clear at this point what happens if the app detects contact. There is a section on the app to submit information if contracted by health authorities, but nothing visible until contacted. Health Department publications simply indicate you will be contacted by the Health Department.
Testing is available at medical clinics, hospitals, and testing stations if you meet the State testing requirements, usually showing symptoms. Each of 7 States and Territories define their testing requirements a little different.
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