Colorado Governor Jared Polis has announced that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has launched its statewide COVID-19 exposure notification system, in partnership with Google and Apple. Coloradans received a notice on their Android and Apple phones with instructions about how to opt-in.  

“We must regain lost ground against this deadly virus, and we need every tool at our disposal to protect ourselves, our families, our communities, and our small businesses,” said Governor Polis. “It’s important for Coloradans to enable CO Exposure Notifications on your iPhone or Android to help save lives, to contain this deadly disease, protect your loved ones, and to use every technological advantage we have against the virus.”

CO Exposure Notifications complements existing statewide health safety protocols without compromising the privacy of Coloradans. Exposure Notification systems like these are critical to preventing further spread of COVID-19. 

Watch Governor Polis explain CO Exposure Notification in a video

When users enable the service, their smartphones share anonymous tokens with other users through the phones’ Bluetooth technology. If another user tests positive for COVID-19 within a 14-day period and chooses to upload their results, users at risk of infection will receive an alert of potential exposure. Tokens are not associated with any phone number, name, location or IP address and they change every 15 minutes to add an extra layer of anonymity. Learn more about CO Exposure Notifications at addyourphone.com. 

Sarah Tuneberg, Lead of Colorado’s Containment and Testing Team and CO Exposure Notifications service lead previouslyexplained, “We understand the importance of privacy and security and have taken extensive steps to ensure personal information is not collected, stored or transmitted through the use of CO Exposure Notifications. By adding your phone to the fight and increasing risk awareness and identification, you can help Colorado stop the spread of COVID-19.” 

CO Exposure Notifications also provides individuals who receive an exposure alert with instructions on recommended next steps, including information on quarantine and contacting their local public health agency.

For additional resources on COVID-19, visit covid19.colorado.gov