Information on NY and NJ COVID Alert Apps

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November 3, 2020

Dear Berkeley College Community,

You may have seen recent media reports about the states of New York and New Jersey launching COVID Alert apps for mobile devices. The COVID Alert NY and COVID Alert NJ apps are designed to notify you if you have been in close contact with someone who has since tested positive for COVID-19. The apps are linked between the two states as well as Pennsylvania.

According to NY and NJ state governments, the apps use Bluetooth technology and do not collect any personal, identifiable information. They notify you if you were potentially exposed to someone who was within six feet of you for more than 10 minutes. The apps do not account for face coverings or physical environment (indoors vs. outdoors). They are a tool to supplement contract tracing efforts and do not replace contact tracing itself. More information can be found at the websites linked above.

In addition, Berkeley now has a team of contact tracers who completed the Johns Hopkins University training to assist local departments of health in the event of a positive case at Berkeley.

Working together, we can help to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.

Sincerely,

COVID-19 Task Force