AMA NT President Dr Robert Parker urges Territorians to sign up to government’s COVID-19 app

THE NT’s top doctor has thrown his support behind the Government’s coronavirus tracing app, as Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed a million Aussies had already signed up. WILL you be signing up? VOTE here in our POLL

• Easy Explainer: How the COVIDSafe app works

THE Territory’s top doctor has thrown his support behind the Federal Government’s coronavirus tracing app, as Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed a million Aussies had already signed up.

The COVIDsafe app was available for download from Sunday night, with users having to provide their phone number, name, age range and postcode.

When the app is turned on, it will make a “Bluetooth handshake” with other phones that come within 1.5m for more than 15 minutes.

If an app user is diagnosed with coronavirus, they will then have to give territory or state authorities’ permission to download the data, which can be used to alert other to self-quarantine and get tested.

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Importantly, the app does not use geolocation, the data is encrypted on the phone itself, and Commonwealth authorities do not have access to it.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has also assured police and the courts will not be able to access the data even with a warrant.

AMA NT President Associate Professor Robert Parker said he would be downloading the app and urged others to do the same.

“I think it’s incredibly important, given how tenacious this virus is,” he said.

Minister Health Greg Hunt at a press conference to launch the new government app ‘CovidSafe’. Picture: Mick Tsikas

Assoc Prof Parker said the app’s ability to notify those who have come into contact with an infected person and contain the public risk of it would authorities to ease restrictions, and in turn improve the physical and mental wellbeing of the community.

He said there is a “natural reluctance” in the community to allow governments to track their whereabouts, but authorities had given assurances about the strict measures in place to protect data and privacy.

Health Minister Greg Hunt tweeted on Sunday night that 1 million Australian had downloaded and registered for the COVIDsafe app within 4.5 hours of it becoming available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Meanwhile, restrictions on elective surgeries will be eased from today and in the NT this includes procedures such as cataract removal.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner on Monday morning also lifted some restrictions.

Territorians will be allowed to go camping, swimming and walking at parks and reserves across the NT this weekend.

National parks, excluding Kakadu, will be open from noon on Friday, May 1.