COVIDSafe: Coronavirus tracing app is fastest way to revoke restrictions

While some states are already easing back restrictions, the key to unlocking normal life around the nation lies in the virus-tracing app.

Natalie Brown

@natalieisbrown

2 min read

April 28, 2020 - 10:22AM

As Australia successfully flattens the COVID-19 curve, some states have taken cautious first steps by relaxing restrictions.

In Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced yesterday shopping for non-essential items, going for drives and having picnics would be allowed from this Saturday, with WA following suit and relaxing indoor and outdoor gathering limits.

“I encourage all Queenslanders to back this first step so that we can keep the virus away and help everyone start to get their lives back,” Ms Palaszczuk told media yesterday, with the announcement hailed as great news for the state.

But in order for restrictions to be walked back on a national level, there are three “critical steps” that need to be taken first, Australia’s deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth told news.com.au: testing, responding to outbreaks, and notifying people who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

Using the COVIDSafe app is among the simplest things Aussies can do to quicken the easing of virus restrictions.

Easiest of the three for Australians to lend a hand in is authorities’ virus-tracing capacity – aided by the introduction of the Federal Government’s COVIDSafe app.

“This is how you can do your part to help defeat this and get ourselves back to our normal Australian life,” Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan said at the app’s unveiling yesterday.

While over one million people have already downloaded and registered for COVIDSafe, it isn’t mandatory. But use of it, Dr Coatsworth explained, “will help us to move more quickly to reduce restrictions than would otherwise be possible”.

COVIDSafe allows authorities to quickly notify people if they have been in contact with someone who has been infected with coronavirus.

“It helps those disease detectives to identify people, even those you may not know, who you may have spent more than 15 minutes in close proximity to,” Dr Coatsworth said.

“It closes the gaps in people’s memory when time and precision are critical.”

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Along with the COVIDSafe app, other measures that have been employed “right through the pandemic” to tackle coronavirus will continue to be employed to help Australia get back to “normal”.

“These measures will continue, even when current restrictions start to ease,” Dr Coatsworth said.

“People should continue to wash their hands well and regularly, keep appropriate distance from others and where necessary access medical advice about any illness and go for testing if it’s advised.”

“The more Australians who take this up, the more secure we are about our public health response,” Australia’s chief medical officer Brendan Murphy told media today.

“And the more secure National Cabinet will be about thinking about taking those gentle cautious steps that we want to take, that we all want to take.”