Apple & Google Will Finally Ship Automatic System for COVID-19 Contact Tracing

Apple and Google will be launching a new software framework to help states deploy their own COVID-19 contact tracing apps, but the states will still need to do some work before it is functional. So if California and many other states continue their cluelessness on this, it will still be a while before we finally see it. This new Exposure Notifications Express system is expected to be released by Apple today in iOS 13.7 and Google is planning to deploy the system for Android later this month to all users with Android 6.0 or higher.

The Verge

From The Verge – Apple and Google announce new automatic app system to track COVID exposures:

Apple and Google are launching a new auto-generated software framework to help states deploy their own contact tracing apps. Developed as an extension of the earlier exposure notification framework, the new system allows public health authorities to avoid the broader development work of launching a standalone app, simply configuring the basic framework to their state’s needs.

The Verge – Apple and Google announce new automatic app system to track COVID exposures

Apple and Google’s Statement

As the next step in our work with public health authorities on Exposure Notifications, we are making it easier and faster for them to use the Exposure Notifications System without the need for them to build and maintain an app. Exposure Notifications Express provides another option for public health authorities to supplement their existing contact tracing operations with technology without compromising on the project’s core tenets of user privacy and security. Existing apps using the ‌Exposure Notification‌ API will be compatible with Exposure Notifications Express, and we are committed to supporting public health authorities that have deployed or are building custom apps.

Apple and Google

Still Requires States To Do Some Work

The framework allows for interoperability between states, with the ability to notify Virginia app users about exposures from Maryland app users, for example.
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Under the new system, participating health departments will assemble a configuration file, allowing them to set their risk scores, redirect users to their specific health department website, and modify the recommendation for users who have been exposed. Once the configuration is complete, iOS and Android can automatically generate the necessary software, although the two operating systems handle the task differently. In Android, the configuration file will automatically generate a custom Android app, while iOS will incorporate the settings into its OS-level contact system.

The Verge – Apple and Google announce new automatic app system to track COVID exposures