The NSW government's Service NSW app has sent over 700,000 COVID-19 case alerts to residents in the past three weeks, but experts warn that without push notifications, this feature is "almost useless" for most users.
The Hidden Feature
Launched in late September, the app's check-in history feature allows users to view locations they've visited in the past four weeks. A red "COVID-19 case alert" icon appears if the venue is listed as an exposure site. According to a Service NSW spokesperson, this feature makes it easy for customers to identify if they had attended a venue on the same day as a positive COVID-19 case.
The Limitations of Manual Check-ins
However, experts warn that without push notifications, thousands of users may be unaware of the feature's existence. Software developer Jim Mussared notes that while some people are diligently checking in with QR codes, many would not know to check their history to see if they've been to a venue of concern. "No single system is a solution to the problem of managing COVID-19," Mr. Mussared said. "But every extra thing makes a difference."
The Importance of Push Notifications
Software developer Richard Nelson agrees that few people would be proactively going in to view their check-in history, and without push notifications, the case alert feature would be almost useless. "Push notifications are a big step forward," Mr. Nelson said. "It's great we finally got here [with case alerts], but this could have been implemented a year ago with better privacy controls."
The Future of Contact Tracing
According to Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello, the aim is to accompany these alerts with push notifications through the app from December 1 as the state scales down contact tracing. "We are adding new functionality to the Service NSW app to support our world-class contact tracers," Mr. Dominello said.
The State of Play
As of Tuesday, NSW reported 282 new local cases of COVID-19 and one death. There were over 120 infections across the Hunter, Murrumbidgee region, and the Mid North Coast. A total of 457 patients are in NSW hospitals with COVID-19, and 109 are in intensive care.
In related news, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has announced that close contacts of positive cases no longer need to isolate for seven days if they are fully vaccinated. This change is part of the state's efforts to reopen safely.
The Bottom Line
As the world continues to navigate the pandemic, the importance of effective contact tracing cannot be overstated. By leveraging app push notifications, governments can empower citizens with critical information, enabling them to take proactive steps in preventing the spread of COVID-19.