Google & Apple have shut down Exposure Notifications. You will continue to receive public health communication & alerts.

Apple and Google have decided to turn off the underlying exposure notification system currently used by Wehealth. This means that beginning on Sep 18, 2023 your phone will no longer notify you if you were near someone who tested positive for COVID-19. However, the app is still the best way to keep up with local community COVID-19 levels tracked by the CDC and you will continue to receive notifications of changes in Covid-19 levels and links to relevant information from public health resources.

We want to thank everyone for using COVID-19 exposure notifications to protect yourself and your community. With your help, the privacy protected exposure notifications helped warn people quickly of their increased risk of infectiousness, breaking chains of infection and preventing millions of COVID-19 cases nationwide. It also helped people get timely access to treatment options helping reduce adverse outcomes. In Arizona, even in 2023, every positive report has resulted in an average of 5 anonymous alerts of possible COVID-19 exposure to others. Based on results of our opt-in post exposure survey, 70% of the people who got notified reported being 50yrs or older and 37% reported having risk of severe illness or a weakened immune system.

Though Google Apple COVID-19 exposure notification may be ending, we are marching along on our mission to develop trusted technology that keeps our communities informed and safe. We are actively working on a new exposure notification protocol that can be used for all hazards, not just COVID-19, and it will become available in the future once testing, calibration and trials are completed. We are also currently testing a new alert system based on data from the National Weather Service that provides local resources and personalized recommendations for weather-related emergencies like air quality, extreme heat, flooding, and wildfires. In partnership with health authorities, academic institutions and research organizations worldwide, we will continue to adapt the app to keep you informed and prepared for the ever-changing risks we face.

We invite everyone to continue using the app, and consider joining the beta program to provide feedback and help make it better! Wehealth's all hazard preparedness platform is free for all public health departments at the national, state, local, territorial or tribal levels. You are welcome to get in touch to learn how you can leverage this platform for your communities.

Update: Here are some answers to most frequent questions we have received

Q. Why shut down exposure notifications at a time when Covid-19 cases are rising?
We don't know the reason(s) behind Google and Apple's decision to turn off EN. We had no choice or say in this matter. 

Q. When will the new protocol go live?
We are actively working on a new exposure notification protocol that can be used for all hazards, not just COVID-19, and it won't require any special support from Google and Apple.  However, it is not yet ready to be turned on and it will become available in the future once testing, calibration and trials are completed. Consider joining the beta program to be the first to try it out and provide feedback.