Mayor welcomes COVIDSafe app

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Ben Taylor has welcomed the launch of the new voluntary coronavirus app, COVIDSafe. 

Cr Taylor said the app would help keep residents safe through early notification of any possible community COVID-19 exposure. 

While the app is voluntary, Cr Taylor said it was an important public health tool in the fight against COVID-19 and urged Ballarat residents to download it if possible. 

“The more people who download the app, the safer the community will be and the sooner we can get Ballarat up and running again,” Cr Taylor said. 

“The app is simply using technology to speed up the work state and territory health officials are already doing in identifying people who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. 

“The app is part of the three key requirements for easing restrictions, which are Test, Trace and Respond, and particularly helps with the Trace and Respond elements. 

“If as many people as possible download the app, we can more quickly respond to any local outbreak as well. 

“We can also stop COVID-19 from silently spreading through our community instead of relying on people being diagnosed with COVID-19 remembering who they have been in contact with. 

“For people concerned about privacy issues, COVIDSafe only keeps contact information for 21 days, which covers the maximum incubation period and the time it takes for someone to be tested. 

“Once the COVID-19 pandemic is over, the app and the information it contains will be deleted. 

“I have downloaded the app and I would urge as many Ballarat residents as possible to do the same to help keep our community safe and to help get Ballarat back up and running, bigger, better and bolder than before.” 

• The COVIDSafe app can be downloaded from your app store. Information on the app can be found here.