About: The COVID Alert PA App (App) is made available by the Pennsylvania Department of
Health (DOH). The App is designed to assist in alerting individuals that came in
close proximity with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, and to
provide information about the virus and steps for controlling the spread of the
virus.
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As opposed to the traditional contract tracing process where a positive COVID-19 individual may not even remember who they have been in contact with recently and for how long (for example, if the contact happened on a bus or a train or some other public venue), the App uses technology developed by Apple and Google where anonymous Random IDs (pseudo random alpha numeric values) are exchanged between mobile phones.
If an individual receives a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, they will receive a call from DOH or their local county or municipal health department within 24-72 hours for case investigation and contact tracing purposes.
It is important to note that both traditional contact tracing and the App never reveal the identity of any person using the App to other App users, and never reveal who has been diagnosed as positive for COVID-19.
Users who were in close contact with a positive COVID-19 individual who submitted their 6-digit code in the app will receive an Exposure Alert.
In the event you receive an Exposure Notification, you will be offered advice on the Exposure Notification Information screen, and if you would like to speak with a public health representative, you can provide your phone number and someone from DOH will call you.
To ensure that Exposure Alerts work properly, users must have COVID-19 Exposure Notification Services (ENS) enabled on their phone.
Users have the option to enable the COVID-19 ENS and permit their phone to display notifications when they have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
If that individual has the App downloaded a 6-digit validation code will be sent to them via SMS/text message to be entered into the App, which then gives the individual the option to upload their Random IDs to a DOH diagnosis keys server.
Also, if you do not want a call from a public health representative and do not enter your phone number, DOH will not know whether you have received an Exposure Notification.
These diagnosis keys are checked for matches against the Random IDs of the contacts that have been collected by your phone.
The app knows when to provide the user with an Exposure Alert by downloading the latest diagnosis keys from the server every four hours and checking for matches.
The App is designed to assist in alerting individuals that came in close proximity with someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, and to provide information about the virus and steps for controlling the spread of the virus.
These anonymous Random IDs cannot reveal your identity to other users, DOH, Apple, Google or anyone else.
If you are close to someone who also uses the App on their phone, your Random ID will be saved on that person’s phone and their Random ID will be saved on your phone.
- Easy and fast installation process
- Uses Bluetooth sensors to determine contact instead of tracking location
- Can track symptoms and share vital statistics to help navigate the pandemic
- Exposure Alert feature is helpful, especially in the upcoming winter months
- Nice statistics and user-friendly interface
By Dave954
When I opened COVIDAlertPennsylvania initially, it was fine. It had a nice look and it was requesting information as I would expect any app to do. Then, my phone started getting incredibly hot, like too hot to handle comfortably and I have a silicone case!
Okay, so I set the phone down and continued to use COVIDAlertPennsylvania because, I figured, what could possibly go wrong when a phone gets 160 degrees, right? Before I finished registering, COVIDAlertPennsylvania would keep crashing. I tried this several times until COVIDAlertPennsylvania actually crashed other apps that I had open! I haven’t seen this happen many times before but I went ahead because, hey, maybe it’s just a bad first impression and I should give it at least 15 chances to not fail, right? Onward!
Finally, I registered the application, poked around a bit, my phone still feeling like I imagine a tin roof would feel in Calcutta in the middle of July and exited. This started the long-awaited cooldown period for my phone. Take a breath!
Later this morning, I come back to it and open COVIDAlertPennsylvania only to find that I have to *re*register. The login that I had created wouldn’t work to get back in and I spent maybe a little less time registering the second time (it always takes longer the first time, doesn’t it?)... aaaaaand my phone’s burning my hands again.
Alright, well... this is where I am with this. I’ll give you more feedback later!
By RonnoPaolo
I’ve read complaints about functionality, battery drain and do on. My concern is validity, does it do what is claims. I have had COVIDAlertPennsylvania since shortly after release. Since then, I have had contact with over 8 individuals that I know have had and tested positive for COVID. I have yet to receive anything like an alert or any response alerting me of that. Not sure if there are too many existing variables to ensure functionality but I’m not convinced that COVIDAlertPennsylvania is doing what it claims. This would be an immensely valuable app if it worked. Yes, I have all notifications and all else turned on.
By MonikaLearnsJapanese
First day of fall, so, timely. New app - little to report. Easy and fast to install. Easy to use and nice statistics. I trust Apple enough to not worry about tracking more than I already do. I hope that if I do accidentally catch Covid, that this will help alert some of the few strangers I might have been near to and help them to avoid further spread.
By Binford46
COVIDAlertPennsylvania, unlike others, uses your Bluetooth sensors to determine if a contact happened vs tracking your location. It's a variant on apps deployed elsewhere around the world, doesn't store where you've been, and can track symptoms and share vital statistics so that all Pennaylvanians can navigate the pandemic a bit better.
By Christina Check
So far, so good. Love that there is an Exposure Alert. I think this is going to be very helpful especially in the upcoming winter months and beyond. Kudus to the developers as I’m sure COVIDAlertPennsylvania was extremely time consuming to create straight through to beta testing, with likely many iterations along the way to make it user friendly.
By RLEash
I was really looking forward to COVIDAlertPennsylvania but after having it for only a few days I had to delete it. It drained my phone battery way too fast. Even while I’m sleeping at night my battery dropped from 100% charge to 60%. Normally I only lose 5% or so. My phone says the draining culprit isn’t the PA Covid app itself but Apple’s built-in “exposure notification” setting that COVIDAlertPennsylvania utilizes and needs enabled.
If it weren’t for that, I would have really liked COVIDAlertPennsylvania!
By deeroob
I use it mainly to see updated numbers but it would be helpful to see the 14 or 21-day history of cases/deaths (in addition to “all”); the currently only other option of 7-day history is pretty useless because of the variation in daily reporting patterns, and because of reporting lag.
By Anahata108
Seems to do what it says but I’ve not gotten any notifications of exposure so 🤷. I do wish it would stop asking me if I want to participate every few days. Sometimes I respond to the daily check in notification and need to say that yes, I do want the thing I configured my phone for. Please stop asking me every few days.
By michael_recinos
COVIDAlertPennsylvania seems like a really useful app and I feel very safe with it and hopefully it does a good job but there is just one striking issue with COVIDAlertPennsylvania that I don’t get at all. When you go to choose your race on COVIDAlertPennsylvania (which firstly I don’t get why that has to be a thing but okay) it has all the other races but it seemingly excludes the Hispanic race (which I am) from the entire list which is really weird to me how someone might forget that but alright. It’s just one obvious issue I see so far that really should not be an issue
By iPhone 3G old user
COVIDAlertPennsylvania will run in the background, but not give you an estimate of how many levels exist between you and someone who tested positive for COVID.
NOVID has better features, but will not run in the background yet.
It is important for greater effectiveness that more people voluntarily use COVID Alert Pennsylvania.
By rffggyy
I’ve been having an issue at the daily check in tab. I was only got to check in when I first downloaded COVIDAlertPennsylvania and when I go to check in for the following days it just says “Thank You” as if I already checked in for the day.
By XnCelt
I am impressed with the features and quality of the iPhone app. My Apple Watch un-tethers me from my iPhone so I lose the alert feature of the PA COVID-19 app when I leave my phone at home? I hope you are working on Apple Watch support with your app. Thank you.
By chokeonyrvote
Truly an important resource to have in order to track infection rates in PA to protect everyone. Now that vaccines are fully rolled out it would be great to see a new feature added where users could securely store COVID vaccination records.
By Awesomepsu22
I mean really that’s it. Was this needed much sooner? Absolutely. But it’s here and it exceeded my expectations by meeting what they should have been. It’s easy to use, runs well, and the UI is smooth and intuitive.
By flushthedon
No battery drain for me at all. I use Bluetooth all the time. I’m glad this doesn’t track location. I’m downloading to be part of a solution in this pandemic. You should too!
By fuzzzymath
I have noticed recently that COVIDAlertPennsylvania has the daily COVID-19 stats earlier (~9AM) than the web dashboard or social media posts (~12PM).
Maybe if they did the same for vaccine information, it would encourage more people to use COVIDAlertPennsylvania .
By JJERC
If your going to ask the public to help out and participate in contact tracing then provide an app that will work with earlier versions of IOS software. Not everyone has a fancy new IPhone and especially in these times when people can’t pay rent and afford groceries, how can they afford to upgrade to a new phone... The people in charge (Levine and Wolf) should be aware of this and push to get it fixed!
By CelloFingers
Easy to use, pops up with a reminder same time every day. No hassle, helps in a big way.
Do I need to leave COVIDAlertPennsylvania open in the background for the Bluetooth contact alerts?
By Mac Thaker
App is simple and easy to use. Doing the job it promised. If you are 2nd guessing about privacy, this is more secured than any app out there. So stop guessing and download COVIDAlertPennsylvania NOW. Put your phone to the fight against COVID19.
By Shakir o
App has up to date stats in current cases, hospitalization and deaths. Easily connects with exposure notifications and doesn’t require an account. Glad that we can leverage the APIs and hope more people continue to adopt it.
By LaraThomas
I’d like to see it be able to tell me more specifics but understand that will probably take time to collect the data. So far, I like it. Clean, clear design with lots of info on privacy
By mruffalo
I don't expect the PA Department of Health to have in-house iOS app development expertise, and I don't mind some delay in vetting a customized third party app. PA is still among the first states to enable this kind of contact tracing, at least according to COVIDAlertPennsylvania Store, and I'm happy to participate.
By BrushXue
It’s been 6 months since the pandemic outbreak and finally the tracking app is available. Apple developed the API and COVIDAlertPennsylvania is just a simple shell so I couldn’t understand what is holding up the development? You should know that more lives can be saved if you publish it earlier.
By Zippo517
COVIDAlertPennsylvania loads quickly and looks nice doesn’t seem to take up much battery life.
By johnnydangr
Exactly what I expected. Focus on privacy so you can provide as much info as you like about yourself. Thanks for developing this.
By jSiu
Been waiting for PA to release their exposure app. There are firms charging $10/mon per user for exposure and contact tracing. So glad that our local government is stepping in to democratize this. Thank you.
By Marmarz
I wish Apple would make it for my iwatch
By peachtree43
Excited to see COVIDAlertPennsylvania launch. Participation will give granular data to aid policymakers and accelerate the return to a more normal life in this state.
Yes. COVID Alert Pennsylvania is quiet safe to use but use with caution. This is based on our NLP (Natural language processing) analysis of over 339 User Reviews sourced from the Appstore and the appstore cumulative rating of 4.0/5 . Justuseapp Safety Score for COVID Alert Pennsylvania Is 21.4/100.
Yes. COVID Alert Pennsylvania is legit, but not 100% legit to us. This conclusion was arrived at by running over 339 COVID Alert Pennsylvania User Reviews through our NLP machine learning process to determine if users believe the app is legitimate or not. Based on this, Justuseapp Legitimacy Score for COVID Alert Pennsylvania Is 37.3/100..
COVID Alert Pennsylvania works most of the time. If it is not working for you, we recommend you excersise some patience and retry later or Contact Support.
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