This week marked the first time since the Federal Government released its voluntary coronavirus contract tracing app on 26 April that health authorities have been able to use the data to track people with the virus.
Victoria confirmed that a person found to be COVID-19 positive on Monday night had the COVIDSafe app on their phone and gave permission for the authorities to use their data to track potential contacts.
NSW also announced shortly afterwards that it had also used the data.
Around six million Australians have so far downloaded the app since it was released just under a month ago – around 23% of the population – which is well below the 40% target set by Prime Minister Scott Morrison for it to be useful.
Under the legislation, it is illegal to force or coerce someone to download the app.
But we have to ask: could it be a useful tool for preventing future outbreaks in aged care homes?
Take the recent case of the aged care nurse at the Government-run Rockhampton Nursing Centre who tested positive last week.
Around 1,000 residents, staff and locals have now been tested for the virus – but would the app have made it faster for any potential positive cases to be detected and isolated quickly?
This week, we also spoke to Professor Stephen Turner, the Head of the Microbiology Department at Monash University’s Biomedicine Discovery Institute and an expert on viral infections.
He also reminded us that pandemics often have ‘second waves’ where people are susceptible because they haven’t been exposed to the virus.
“This is very much in case in aged care where elderly people are at the highest risk of infection,” he said.
Stephen says limiting the impact of any ‘wave’ in aged care will depend on people maintaining hygiene and physical distancing, covering their face with masks, using hand sanitiser and avoiding homes if they have symptoms.
However, he said contact tracing is the most critical part of stamping out the virus.
“It is clear from other jurisdiction, Germany, the UK for example, that electronic contact tracing really does work and helps get on top of this thing much more quickly,” he said.
The industry peak bodies have been encouraging their members to download the app.
We are not saying the app should be made mandatory for staff and family members – but with all of us wanting to keep our older Mums and Dads safe, it could be a practical way for us to protect everyone.
