Health & Fitness
Somerville Piloting Coronavirus Exposure App
MassNotify will send you an "exposure alert" if you were in close contact with someone who shared through the app that they tested positive.
SOMERVILLE, MA — The cities of Somerville and Methuen are working with state public health officials to pilot MassNotify, an app that notifies residents of a potential coronavirus exposure.
The pilot began Monday, April 5. MassNotify will send users an "exposure alert" if they were in close contact with someone who anonymously shared through the app that they tested positive for COVID-19.
The app shares anonymous Bluetooth codes, which do not contain personal information or location data, with other nearby phones. If you test positive, you can choose to anonymously alert other MassNotify users about the potential exposure.
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The app will also provide information regarding testing and quarantining.
How to Enable MassNotify
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On an iPhone
- Go to Settings
- Scroll down to Exposure Notifications
- Click “Turn on Exposure Notifications”
- Select United States
- Select Massachusetts
On an Android Phone
- Go to the Google Play store
- Download the MassNotify app
The app is not intended to replace contact tracing or testing efforts, officials said. Go to www.mass.gov/massnotify to learn how you can add your phone to the fight against COVID-19 in Massachusetts.
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