Honolulu, Hawaiʻi – Representative Linda Ichiyama, Chair of the newly formed House Committee on Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness, said the AlohaSafe Alert app, launched statewide today, will be a great help in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi.
“This app is a critical tool to protect the health of our residents and limit the spread of the coronavirus," said Rep. Linda Ichiyama (D-32, Moanalua Valley, Salt Lake, Āliamanu). "Installing the app on your smart phone is a proactive way to provide an additional protection for yourself and your family.”
The AlohaSafe Alert app was developed in partnership with the state Department of Health (DOH), aio Digital, Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative and Every1ne Hawaiʻi, to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by notifying users if they have been potentially exposed to the virus.
This voluntary application is free and can be downloaded now from both the Apple and Google Play stores. Once downloaded, the app uses Bluetooth technology to anonymously communicate with other phones that have the application. The devices will “ping” one another, measuring the strength of the Bluetooth signal, distance of each device, and the duration of the contact. The more people who use the app, the safer and healthier we will make our community.
If an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19, they will receive a text message from the Department of Health with a verification code to input into the app. This code will anonymously notify other devices about their possible COVID-19 exposure. The notification will not disclose any personally identifying information such as where, how, or when they were exposed. To trigger a notification alert, devices must have been within 6 feet of each other for at least 15 minutes in the past 14 days. If someone receives a notification from AlohaSafe Alert that they may have been exposed to COVID-19, they are recommended to self-quarantine, and get tested.
"This app gives an added layer of protection to everyone in the State, from Kauaʻi to Hawaiʻi Island and all areas in between to receive direct notification if they may have been exposed to the virus," said House Majority Leader Della Au Belatti. "They can then contact their own doctor to determine if they need to be tested or take other precautions."
According to the AlohaSafe website:
Combined with other measures, if 15% of our community uses AlohaSafe Alert, we can reduce infections by 8% and deaths by 6%.
80% of all smartphone users (i.e. 56% of the overall population) would be enough to suppress the pandemic on its own without any other form of intervention.
For more information on the Aloha Safe Travels app, go to https://www.wearealohasafe.org
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