COVIDSafe app overhaul

The controversial COVIDSafe app is getting a much-needed makeover, but tech experts say any upgrades are useless unless the Morrison government finds a way to make Australians use it.

The app has largely disappeared from view after it was widely criticised for having software glitches and later abandoned in Victoria during the state’s deadly second coronavirus wave.

Federal officials last month told Senate estimates the app had identified just 17 people not picked up through manual contact tracing.

But now, it’s making a comeback.

On Monday, Government Services Minister Stuart Robert announced the app will receive a major upgrade by incorporating a new Bluetooth protocol called Herald designed to improve performance and better identify potential close contacts.

Here’s hoping it works: External spending aimed at improving the technology surpassed a staggering $5 million in September.

What are the upgrades?

The COVIDSafe app uses Bluetooth technology to quickly alert users who may have been within 1.5 metres of a positive case for more than 15 minutes in public places like supermarkets.

The upgrades promise to improve this capability to better identify potential close contacts.

This time, it will be integrated with state and territory health authorities, giving contact tracers a better idea of who may have come into contact with a known case no matter where they are in Australia.

Notably, the code for the update will be made publicly available on GitHub – an open-source platform where coders share their information to be scrutinised – before it is released for Apple and Google devices.

This means experts will be able to point out any critical flaws before the update is rolled out, unlike the initial launch of the app in April.

Mr Robert said the code would also be made available internationally so other countries could use it.

“Australia’s technology capability and contact tracing systems are world leading,” he said on Monday.

“We will be the first country in the world to adopt the Herald Bluetooth protocol, which has been shown to significantly improve our capability through the COVIDSafe App.”

Experts weigh in

“Upgrades are welcome, especially if they’re rectifying bugs in the system,” said Professor Katina Michael, a public interest technology advocate at the University of Wollongong.

She also welcomed the government’s decision to make the new code publicly available so coders could have their say before it’s released.

“That’s showing remorse and saying: ‘We did the wrong thing the first time. If you think you know better, tell us’,” she said.

However, Professor Michael pointed out many Australians had already made the switch to QR codes at restaurants, bars and cafes, especially in Victoria and New South Wales.

She said they would likely be reluctant to return to the COVIDSafe app, or use it in addition to the QR code system.

“My initial gut reaction is, ‘Great, there’s an upgrade’, but who’s going to adopt it?” she said.

“The Australian public are probably sceptical it works, even though it probably does.”

In August, as Victoria’s second wave took hold, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the app had surpassed seven million downloads nationwide – an improvement from 6.4 million in July, but still well short of the government’s target.

Ritesh Chugh, a senior lecturer in information systems at CQUniversity, agreed more work needed to be done to promote the app, and said the upgrades “should’ve been accomplished months ago”.

Read: Four months have passed since the COVIDSafe contact tracing app: Where are we now?

However, he was pleased the government had finally taken a “step forward” by improving the technology, “especially as borders reopen and people start driving more”.

“Integration with state and territory health authorities is definitely going to be good because that’s what was missing in the past,” Dr Chugh said.

“Once it becomes integrated with Apple and Google’s framework, the technology will become much more effective at identifying contacts, too.”

He said the Herald protocol was a big win because it supported more than 98 per cent of phones worldwide.

“It also offers international operability, and can be embedded into variable devices, such as smartwatches,” Dr Chugh said.

Read: How smartwatches are saving the lives of women and children

The upgrades come before a new Christmas advertising campaign urging Australians to adhere to social distancing rules during the holidays.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said it would be an important reminder about protecting people and their families against COVID-19.

“The government is reinforcing the message not to be complacent in regards to the risks of spreading COVID-19 and how to stay safe, including having the app on your phone,” Mr Hunt said.

Western Australia opens COVID borders to Victoria, NSW with conditions

Western Australia will open its borders to Victoria and NSW on December 8, after the eastern states deemed “very low risk” by WA health authorities.

Travellers from those states will no longer be required to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in WA.

They have been subject to almost nine months of restrictions in one of Australia’s toughest pandemic border regimes.

Premier Mark McGowan’s decision, announced on Tuesday morning, means WA has removed border controls for all states and territories except for South Australia, which continues to grapple with a community outbreak.

Mr McGowan said the move came after Victoria reached a milestone of 28 days without community transmission of COVID-19 last Friday. NSW is expected to hit the same mark this Friday.

“It has been a remarkable effort from Victoria, in particular, given the position they were in a few months ago. It is an outstanding achievement, unrivalled around the world,” he said.

“I’d like to acknowledge and thank everyone for their patience and understanding.

“It’s been a long wait.

“As a country, I’m so relieved we’ve gotten to this point. It’s a credit to all Australians that we are nearly at the point of eliminating the virus in the community.”

Victoria has already hit WA’s criteria to qualify for eased border rules, while NSW has now gone 24 days without a locally-acquired infection.

With the expectation NSW will reach that same milestone on Friday, millions of people from the eastern states will finally be able to travel to WA to visit family and friends.

From December 8, Victoria and NSW will be categorised “very low risk” under controlled borders, joining the ACT, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Mr McGowan said travel would be permitted to WA under the following conditions:

• All Perth airport arrivals must undergo a health screening and temperature test on arrival;

• Travellers must be prepared to take a COVID-19 test at the airport if asked to do so by a health clinician;

• Travellers must complete a state government border pass declaration stipulating they have no COVID symptoms and which jurisdictions they have been in for the past 14 days;

• Travellers must confirm they have not knowingly mixed with anyone from South Australia;

• Land arrivals will be met at border checkpoints for health screening and to have their pass declaration checked.

• queensland victoria nsw border

Matt Jacovi re-unites with his wife Ashley and daughter Payten after arriving in Brisbane from Sydney.

Queensland welcomes its southern neighbours

Meanwhile, Victorians and Sydney-siders jumped on planes on Tuesday morning and headed to the Sunshine State, reuniting in emotional scenes with family and friends, and being able to resume workplace interactions.

There were excited scenes at Brisbane airport early on Tuesday as Queensland opened its borders to Victorians and Sydney-siders for the first time in months.

Among the first off a plane from Sydney bright and early was Matt Jacovi, who was finally able to reunite with his wife Ashley and daughter Payten.

“It’s been a long time,” an emotional Mr Jacovi said after greeting his family.

Elsewhere, the first flight from Melbourne was to be greeted with a baggage carousel loaded with freebie thongs in retailer’s publicity stunt.

Queensland closed its borders to NSW residents in August, although people from outside Sydney were allowed back in from early November. Victorians have had an even longer wait – the Sunshine State barred them in July.

Queensland has some form of border restrictions since the pandemic first struck in late March. But it is easing its measures as other states get the virus under control.

Tasmania welcomes SA visitors

South Australia will be classified as a low-risk area to Tasmania from Thursday, meaning travellers won’t have to quarantine on arrival.

The exception will be people who’ve been to locations identified by SA Health as posing high risk.

Anyone who is quarantining in Tasmania based on time spent in SA will be able to end their quarantine on Thursday.

The day will be a milestone, as Tasmania will be open to all other states and territories for the first time in nine months.

Source: Samantha Dick, 1 December 2020, “COVIDSafe app overhaul: What you need to know about the upgrades”, The New Daily AU, https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/12/01/covidsafe-app-overhaul-bluetooth/