Australians have rushed to download the Federal Government’s innovative new COVIDSafe tracing app.

More than one million people activated it in the hours after it went live on Sunday night and that number is expected to rapidly expand.

Watch the video above

The app is designed to help contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus by notifying you if you’ve come into contact with an infected person.

“We hoped one million Australians might download it within five days - instead we hit the one million mark within five hours,” Health minister Greg Hunt told Sunrise.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says COVIDSafe is the key to loosening lockdowns and needs at least 40 per cent of the population to use it to be effective.

“The more people who download COVIDSafe will mean that we can control the spread of the virus and start easing some of the restrictions we have had to put in place,” he said.

How does it work?

COVIDSafe uses Bluetooth, not geo-location, to record when another user comes within 1.5 metres of your smartphone.

If you test positive for COVID-19, health authorities will ask you to release this information so people you’ve been close to can be notified, get tested and self-isolate.

Similarly, you’ll be notified if you’ve been in close proximity to someone who is diagnosed.

In the video below: The AMA says COVIDSafe will help doctors and nurses

Play Video Australian Medical Association President Dr Tony Bartone explains why health experts support the controversial app. Australian Medical Association President Dr Tony Bartone explains why health experts support the controversial app.

Information is securely stored on your device for a rolling-21 day window to allow for the 14-day incubation period of the virus.

Privacy

The Federal Government has made misusing the data a criminal offence to ease privacy concerns.

The app asks for your name, postcode, phone number and age range. Your geo-location is not required.

This data is encrypted and stored securely on your smartphone until a health official asks you to release it to them.

“Information through the app will only be accessible to state and territory health officials. Any other access or use will be a criminal offence,” the Prime Minister said.

“Once the pandemic is over, and the app is no longer needed, the app and all its data will be deleted permanently. No virus, no app.”

How to download

To download COVIDSafe, visit the App Store, Google Play or click here.

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