(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that COVID Alert CT, Connecticut’s COVID-19 exposure notification app, has been activated on more than one million mobile devices – reaching roughly one-third of the state’s population, which is among the highest activation rates in the country. Apple and Google have reported that public health benefits start to be realized when 15 percent of the population enables the feature.
The app, released in November, allows users to receive anonymous notification on their mobile devices if they have been in close proximity of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This means being within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more in a 24-hour period over the past 14 days. Those who receive a notification will not be told who the person was who was near them because no personal information is shared. Upon receiving such a notification, users are prompted to call the state’s contact tracing team. The app also works within similar apps that have been activated in other states, and it is available in multiple languages.
“This is an important milestone in the effort to reduce transmission of COVID-19 in Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “I am pleased to see that so many of our residents have decided to activate this app on their mobile devices. It says, yet again, that our residents are among the most diligent in the country and are an example to others as they continue to use tools like this that can help stop the spread of COVID-19, and also wear their masks and keep their distance.”
“This is an encouraging metric for our state as we head into 2021 and continue to expand the resources available to our residents through the state’s COVID-19 response efforts,” Connecticut Public Health Acting Commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford said. “This app not only informs those who may have been near someone who tested positive for COVID-19, but also gives those individuals information about how to be in touch with our contact tracing team, who can help them access critical information and resources about what they need to do to self-isolate or quarantine.”
“This app is a great example of what we can do to leverage technology and public-private partnerships to improve public health and safety during this unprecedented pandemic,” Connecticut’s Chief Operating Officer Josh Geballe said. “While this is a significant number, it’s important to know that we still want more people to active this app. The more people who have it on their phone, the more effective it is as a tool we can use to combat COVID-19 and support our contact tracing efforts.”
Here’s how to activate the app:
- Instructions for Apple devices: On Apple devices such as iPhones, this feature is already installed on all devices operating iOS 13.7 or later but must be manually turned on by the user in order to function. To activate this feature, Apple users must go to Settings, select Exposure Notifications, and then select Turn On Exposure Notifications. From there, users should select United States and then Connecticut.
- Instructions for Android devices: On Android devices, this feature must be downloaded as a separate app. It is free for all users. To download the app, visit the Google Play store and search the keywords “COVID Alert CT” or click here.
For more information on how COVID Alert CT works, visit ct.gov/covidalertct.