What: COVIDWISE is an app that allows Virginians to receive notifications when they have come into contact with someone with the virus. The app keeps track of positive results, which can be submitted by users in the app, and alerts users if they were recently in contact with a carrier.

At the end of the week, the app would tell you that you haven’t come into contact this week. The app does not take your personal information as it uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to keep track of your personalized anonymous token. The token isn’t used to keep track of your identity or location, as it changes every 10-15 minutes. 

Your device downloads the list of all the reported positive COVID-19 cases and matches them with the anonymous tokens that have encountered the virus carriers in the last 2 weeks.

Where: Available for download on the iPhone App Store and the Android Google Play Store.

Why: The COVIDWISE app can have a great contribution to slowing the virus in Virginia. I recommend downloading it as it’s completely free of charge and can benefit your health. The exposure notifications give you immediate medical advice on how to stay safe and at the end of the week, the app reassures you if you have not been in contact with the virus.