Coronavirus Information...who do you trust?

[hollodero]

(08-06-2020, 07:35 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: The other thing is something Virginia did that is a first in the country. Virginia Department of Health released an app, yesterday, called COVIDWISE. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/08/05/899414953/virginia-unveils-app-to-aid-contact-tracing

Developed from both Apple and Google, it utilizes Bluetooth to store data about devices that you come in contact with and for how long. Then, if a person tests positive for COVID they can enter that positive test in the app using a special key, then every phone with the app that was in contact with them in the two-weeks prior are notified that they could have been in contact with someone and what to do next. It doesn't use GPS services, doesn't know who you are. It all work anonymously because all that is important is contact with other users. It is also completely voluntary, but if use could help tremendously in contact tracing.

I find it weird that in the US this is only coming along now, apparently. We have an app like that for months already. Government even planned to make the use mandatory, but that was shot down by public disapproval.