Coronavirus Exposure Notifications: 580K Coloradans Sign Up

Thousands of Coloradans have signed up for a new statewide coronavirus tracking system that notifies people of nearby cases.

State officials worked with Google and Apple set up the system, which uses Bluetooth technology to share anonymous tokens with other phones. If someone tests positive for the coronavirus and chooses to upload their results, people who are 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, officials said.

The technology was launched Sunday, and by Wednesday, 587,615 Coloradans had signed up.

“We are so proud of Coloradans and their swift adoption of this critical technology," said Sarah Tuneberg, Lead of Colorado’s Testing and Containment Team.

"Knowing you’ve been near someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 allows people to make the most informed decision about what to do next and protect themselves and their families. We encourage everyone to visit addyourphone.com and opt in to protect the health of yourself and your loved ones,” Tuneberg said in a statement.

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Exposure notification systems are "critical" for preventing the spread of COVID-19, public health officials said.

>> Sign up for Colorado exposure notifications here.