Add a layer of protection with WA Notify
We’re all excited to be out with other people again, but let’s be frank. It’s a little scary too. Taking a few extra precautions can help you and your loved ones stay a bit safer. WA Notify can help.
Last November, DOH launched WA Notify — a simple, free, and anonymous exposure notification tool. Since then, nearly 2.19 million people have enabled it on their smartphones.
By adding WA Notify to your smartphone, you can be notified if you were near another WA Notify user who later tests positive for COVID-19. This lets you get the care you need quickly and helps keep you from spreading COVID-19 to people around you. This is all done without using any location tracking technology. The data remains completely anonymous and cannot be used to identify or track anyone. Participation is completely voluntary.
If you test positive, you can anonymously notify other WA Notify users (even people you don’t know) that you were nearby. This gives them the opportunity to quarantine and get tested while minimizing exposure to others.
How it works
WA Notify uses privacy-preserving proximity technology developed by Google and Apple. It works without collecting or revealing any actual location or personal data. The app doesn’t need to know who or where you are to work. It runs in the background and only uses tiny bursts of Bluetooth to avoid draining your battery.
An algorithm determines if you may have been exposed to COVID-19 by analyzing your device’s proximity to other enabled devices. WA Notify then sends an alert if you were potentially exposed to COVID-19. So not receiving an alert is good news.
WA Notify is free and can be enabled in iPhone settings for iPhone 5s or newer (with iOS 12.5 or higher). Android phone users can download the app from the Google Play Store. Users can opt out at any time. WA Notify is available in over 30 languages, so almost anyone in Washington can use it. If you aren’t using WA Notify yet, what are you waiting for?
For instructions about how to enable WA Notify on your smartphone, visit WANotify.org.
More information
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Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 12 and older. For more information about the vaccine, visit CovidVaccineWA.org and use the vaccine locator tool to find an appointment. The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost to you.
WA Notify can alert you if you’ve been near another user who tested positive for COVID-19. Add WA Notify to your phone today: WANotify.org
Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.
