More than 2 million Virginians are using COVIDWISE Exposure Notifications tools — Join the fight today!
Download Virginia’s free COVIDWISE Exposure Notifications app to help protect your community while protecting your privacy.
Supported on iOS 13.5 & 13.6, compatible with iPhone.
Supported on Android Version 6 (API 23) or above.
Android Device Exposure Issue?
If you are experiencing any app related issues or have feedback, please take a moment to fill out the form located here.
Why Should You Download COVIDWISE?
More than 1 in 4 Virginians are using Exposure Notifications
COVIDWISE is Virginia’s official Exposure Notifications app that lets you know if you’ve likely been exposed to another COVIDWISE user with a positive COVID-19 test result.
- COVIDWISE is free to download on your smartphone.
- It is designed to completely protect your privacy.
- If you test positive COVID-19, COVIDWISE allows you to quickly and anonymously share your results with other COVIDWISE users.
- COVIDWISE is connected to the National Key Server, which anonymously shares data with exposure notifications apps from 23 other states.
- COVIDWISE lets you easily find vaccine information, including pre-registration links, hotline info, FAQs, and more.
- iPhone users now have two ways to start using COVIDWISE. You can either download the app or you can simply enable Exposure Notifications on your iPhone.
“I downloaded and the app, and find it reassuring. I don’t go out much at all but did make a grocery run on Sunday. I got an update that I have zero exposures in the last week. Of course, that would be even more reassuring if more people participated.”
“I’m in. Have the COVID wise app. Thank you Virginia for being so responsible and having such integrity!!!”
“Please consider installing the COVIDWISE app on your phone. This app helps with tracking the virus. However, it only works if many people download it and use it. The more of us that do it, the more effective it is. Please share!”
“This app is already on my phone. Thanks for your innovative ideas!”
“The tokens are anonymous and expire after a set period of time. And the app doesn’t request any special permissions since it relies on the Apple-Google contact tracing API that’s already installed to your phone (which can be disabled in settings if you so choose to).”
“It’s fine to question the security concerns of this app, and we should always be cautious, but at the very least it’s a step in the right direction to help mitigate the spread of COVID.”
“Received my COVIDWISE update today. Thank you!”
“If you haven’t heard yet. VA developed an app that can help alert you if someone who has been near you tested positive for covid19. It’s free in the app stores and is really simple to use. Look up COVIDWISE.”
“I’ve had this App since it launched and every week, it gives me a report to let me know if I’ve had any exposures which I find really comforting. To those of you fearful this is somehow invading your privacy it does not. Apple specifically designed this with privacy in mind! This works similarly to how Apple Pay works: your phone gives out an encrypted single-use token to other COVIDWISE users and vice versa. No one will ever know your name or get any of your personal info, not even the health department.”
“I have COVIDWISE. I wish everyone did.”
“I downloaded and the app, and find it reassuring. I don’t go out much at all but did make a grocery run on Sunday. I got an update that I have zero exposures in the last week. Of course, that would be even more reassuring if more people participated.”
“I’m in. Have the COVID wise app. Thank you Virginia for being so responsible and having such integrity!!!”
“Please consider installing the COVIDWISE app on your phone. This app helps with tracking the virus. However, it only works if many people download it and use it. The more of us that do it, the more effective it is. Please share!”
“This app is already on my phone. Thanks for your innovative ideas!”
“The tokens are anonymous and expire after a set period of time. And the app doesn’t request any special permissions since it relies on the Apple-Google contact tracing API that’s already installed to your phone (which can be disabled in settings if you so choose to).”
“It’s fine to question the security concerns of this app, and we should always be cautious, but at the very least it’s a step in the right direction to help mitigate the spread of COVID.”
“Received my COVIDWISE update today. Thank you!”
“If you haven’t heard yet. VA developed an app that can help alert you if someone who has been near you tested positive for covid19. It’s free in the app stores and is really simple to use. Look up COVIDWISE.”
“I have COVIDWISE. I wish everyone did.”
How It Works
COVIDWISE uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to quickly notify users who have likely been exposed to COVID-19 so you can reduce the risk of infection for your friends, family, and help Virginia stop the spread.
For iPhones:
Download the free COVIDWISE app from the iPhone App Store and follow the app instructions to turn on your Exposure Notifications.
OR
Enable COVIDWISE Express.
To enable COVIDWISE Express, you don’t need to download an app but must have one of the following iOS versions: (iPhone 6s or newer: iOS 13.7 or later; iPhone 5s, 6, or 6 Plus: iOS 12.5).
Go to Settings and Turn On Exposure Notifications Opt-in, select your region as Virginia, and complete the onboarding process as directed.
Once you opt-in, the Exposure Notifications System will generate an anonymous token for your device. To help ensure these anonymous tokens can’t be used to identify you or your location, they change every 10-20 minutes.
Your phone and the phones around you will work in the background, without draining your battery or data, to exchange these privacy-preserving anonymous tokens via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. This is a passive process that begins once you opt-in.
On a daily basis, your phone downloads a list of all the anonymous tokens associated with positive COVID-19 cases and checks them against the list of anonymous tokens it has encountered in the last 14 days.
If there’s a match, COVIDWISE will notify you with further instructions from your public health authority on how to keep you and the people around you safe.
For Android Devices:
Download the free COVIDWISE app from the Android Google Play Store and follow the app instructions to turn on your Exposure Notifications.
The Exposure Notifications System will generate an anonymous token for your device. To help ensure these anonymous tokens can’t be used to identify you or your location, they change every 10-20 minutes.
Your phone and the phones around you will work in the background, without draining your battery or data, to exchange these privacy-preserving anonymous tokens via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. This is a passive process that begins once you opt-in.
On a daily basis, your phone downloads a list of all the anonymous tokens associated with positive COVID-19 cases and checks them against the list of anonymous tokens it has encountered in the last 14 days.
If there’s a match, COVIDWISE will notify you with further instructions from your public health authority on how to keep you and the people around you safe.
Did You Test Positive for COVID-19?
Get Your Verification Code To Anonymously Share Your Results with COVIDWISE
Obtaining your Verification Code is quick and easy through the COVIDWISE Verification Portal! If you recently received a positive COVID test result, get your Verification Code today so you can anonymously share your results through COVIDWISE, notify others, and help save lives.
FAQs
We’ve answered a few frequently asked questions about COVIDWISE.
Supporter Toolkit
Your company can join in by sharing COVIDWISE branded content!
Fact Sheets
Learn more about COVIDWISE, COVIDWISE Express, and COVID-19 Text Alerts.
App Privacy Policy
With COVIDWISE, your privacy and personal information are 100% protected.
COVID-19 Resources
Check out these additional resources regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Contact Us
Additional questions? Want to support COVIDWISE Email us today!
VDH thanks the following Virginia businesses, organizations and institutions for joining the fight against COVID-19
The Virginia Department of Health does not endorse these businesses or their products.
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