Test positive at home?
Help stop the spread with WA Notify & at-home COVID testing
You weren’t feeling well and took an at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 test and it’s positive. What’s next? In addition to isolating and informing close contacts, you can now easily use your smartphone to help stop the spread of COVID-19. If you have a smartphone with WA Notify enabled, you can request a verification code to alert other WA Notify users who may have been exposed.
What is WA Notify?
WA Notify is a free exposure notification tool that works on smartphones to alert users if they may have been exposed to COVID-19. It’s completely private; no personal information is shared, including where or exactly when the exposure happened. WA Notify was launched a year ago and since then, over 2.75 million people have enabled the tool on their phones.
The app runs in the background on smartphones that have enabled WA Notify; the phones will exchange random, anonymous codes when near others who have also enabled WA Notify on their phones. If a user later tests positive for COVID-19, and adds a verification code into the app, other WA Notify users they were near will receive an anonymous notification that they may have been exposed. These close contacts can then take steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19, like testing and quarantining.
Request a Verification Code
Previously, WA Notify only provided exposure notifications for positive for COVID-19 tests performed at a laboratory or testing site and reported to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH). But now people are using at-home tests more often. This new feature means people can now be notified if they were near someone who got a positive test result using an at-home test.
Here’s how to request a verification code if you test positive for COVID-19 on an at-home test:
On an iPhone
- Go to the Settings and open Exposure Notifications.
- Select “Share a Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis.”
- Select “Continue” then select “Didn’t get a code? Visit WA State Dept. of Health Website.”
- Enter the phone number of your device that uses WA Notify and the date of your positive COVID-19 test.
- Select “Continue.”
On an Android
- Open WA Notify and select “Share your test result to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”
- Select “Continue” then select “I need a code.”
- Enter the phone number of your device that uses WA Notify and the date of your positive COVID-19 test.
- Select “Send Code.”
For both iPhone and Android users, you will then receive a pop-up notification and a text message with your verification link. You only need to tap the notification or click the link in the text message to follow the steps in WA Notify, to anonymously alert other users of a possible exposure
If you are unable to request a verification code in WA Notify, you should call the state COVID-19 hotline, 1–800–525–0127, then press #, and let the hotline staff know that you are a WA Notify user. The hotline staff can provide you with a verification link you can use to alert other WA Notify users that they may have been exposed.
Then there’s one last step. After you’ve requested your verification code in WA Notify, and alerted other users, report your positive result to DOH. Call the state COVID-19 hotline, 1–800–525–0127, then press #, to report your positive result.
Get vaccinated (and boosted)
WA Notify is just one more tool to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Everyone over the age of 5 should get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. Pfizer is authorized for ages 5 and older. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson are authorized for ages 18 and older.
If you’re already fully vaccinated and age 16 or older, get a booster dose.
- If you got the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, get a booster at least six months after completing your first two doses.
- If you got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, get a booster at least two months after your first shot.
You can get any of these three vaccine brands as your booster if you’re 18 or older, no matter which brand you got for your first dose(s). People ages 16 and 17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine as a booster.
More Information
This blog is accurate as of the date of posting. Information changes rapidly, so check the state’s COVID-19 website for the most up-to-date info at coronavirus.wa.gov. You can also sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 5 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.
