Our country has dedicated many resources to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, SA’s official Bluetooth contact tracing app – COVID Alert SA – brings our smartphones and individual might to the collective fight against COVID-19. Here’s why downloading the app helps you to protect countless others. And, you’ll be anonymous throughout.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called the COVID-19 pandemic the “gravest crisis in the history of our democracy”. South Africans have felt the devastating impact of the pandemic on so many levels.
It’s affected either our health or the health of loved ones. The pandemic has damaged our economy and caused job losses and business closures. Healthcare facilities have been pushed to capacity and beyond. There seems no end to its impacts on our lives.
Here’s what you can do to turn the tide on these events, to help SA to overcome COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that the choices we make and the preventive measures we practice can protect our loved ones, our communities and broader society. And, technology is key to slowing the spread of COVID‑19 and accelerating our return to everyday life.
What if you could use your smartphone to join a powerful community of completely anonymous app users who are helping all South Africans to stay safe and protect each other from COVID-19.
Now you can, by downloading and using the COVID Alert SA app, the South African government’s official Bluetooth contact-tracing app. It’s built on the Apple–Google Exposure Notifications application programmable interface (API). User privacy and security are at the core of the design.
Anyone in South Africa who has a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone can access this app.
You can download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play store.
- Downloading the app is quick and easy – it’s under 3 MB in size.
- The app is free and does not feature in-app purchases.
- You will not have to pay for mobile data when you use the app – the data to use the app has been zero-rated by all of South Africa’s mobile network providers.
What does every COVID Alert SA app user gain?
Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, has repeatedly said that one of the most critical aspects of combating COVID-19 is the ability to detect people who have tested positive for COVID-19 early. Then, to track and trace those who have been in close contact with and refer them for appropriate management – whether it is immediate testing, isolation or quarantine. This process is called contact tracing.
However, manual contact tracing is a time-consuming, process that has its limits. The person who tests positive for COVID-19 needs to remember all the people they have been in close contact with for the past two weeks and their contact details, which is not possible for people they come into contact with in public places such as at the grocery store or on public transport.
Download the COVID Alert SA app app today
The COVID Alert SA app uses Bluetooth contact-tracing technology to let people know if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. It gives everyone the chance to understand their exposure to the virus, so that we can protect every member of the community, especially those most at risk. It is an important tool to combating the pandemic, as it can help slow the spread of the virus and save lives. Anyone in South Africa who has a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone can access this app for free.
- Understand how the COVID Alert SA app works in more detail.
Applying Bluetooth signals to slowing the spread of COVID-19 has shown promise the world over. The more that South African smartphone users download and enable the COVID Alert SA app, the faster we will progress to overcoming the pandemic.
Every time we break the chain of transmission of COVID-19 in a household, a neighbourhood and a community, we see a powerful ripple effect that works towards keeping all South Africans safe and rebuilding our economy. Now is the time for all South Africans to unite and work to keep one another safe. Doing this requires collaboration and a real sense that we are in this together.
All South African smartphone users are encouraged to download the COVID Alert SA app today and add their smartphone to our country’s efforts to stand up against COVID-19 and its effects on our society and our economy.
You can download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
- Downloading the app is quick and easy – it’s under 3 MB in size.
- The app is free and does not feature in-app purchases.
- You will not have to pay for mobile data when you use the app – the data to use the app has been zero-rated by all of South Africa’s mobile network providers.
Did you know that the COVID Alert SA app is part of COVIDConnect?
The COVID Alert SA app is the latest extension to the National Department of Health’s COVIDConnect platform, which was launched on 17 July. While the COVID Alert SA app can only be downloaded to a smartphone, COVIDConnect works on any mobile phone. It offers news and information, a risk-assessment tool and COVID-19 test results via WhatsApp or SMS. In the case of positive test results, users are prompted to provide further information to identify close contacts. They are, in turn, immediately alerted of their potential exposure to COVID-19 via SMS, without disclosing the index patient’s details. The system can also geo-locate the nearest quarantine or healthcare facility.
- Both the COVID Alert SA app and COVIDConnect platforms function without infringing on a users’ privacy or data. Confidentiality is preserved at all times.
