RI Democrat Governor Unveils New "Crush COVID" App Complete With GPS Location Tracker

 

"It only works if everybody's using it…"

 

Gov. Gina Raimondo has unveiled the state's new smart phone app, "Crush Covid RI."

 

“I love the title because we are crushing COVID,” Raimondo said Tuesday during her daily coronavirus press briefing, adding that Rhode Island is one of the first states to roll out “a one-stop app of this kind.”

 

The app’s key feature and potentially controversial feature includes a GPS "Location Diary.” If you agree to sign up for it, the app keeps track of where you’ve been for up to 20 days.

 

Raimondo said the tool will greatly help the state with contact tracing to find where people who test positive have been.

 

But she said it is voluntary and so is allowing the tracker.

 

“It’s only on your phone, and it’s only if you enable it,” she said.

 

Raimondo defended against privacy concerns, saying the app doesn’t ask for anyone’s name or personal information.

 

She also said the tracking data only goes to the health department if you agree to it after testing positive.

 

“I can’t force you to do it,” Raimondo said. “I’m not going to try to force you to do it. It’s completely your choice.”

 

Still, she said she recommends it.

 

“It’s in the best interest of Rhode Island’s health care and economy if people use it,” Raimondo said. “Learn about it. I’m going to ask you to try. I’m going to ask you to be open minded.”

 

The app also has a "Symptom Checker" that asks how people are feeling, as well as a link to "Get Tested."

 

By collecting data by zip code, Raimondo said the state can try to find virus hot spots.

 

“It only works if everybody’s using it so we can see where everybody is because the name of the game is containing the virus,” Raimondo said.

 

Other options on the app include, "Get Help," which gives information about things like food delivery, places to stay, behavioral help, insurance questions, and employment questions.

 

There’s also “Get Informed,” which links to items such as case data and new business rules, and “Get Involved," which links to ways to volunteer or donate.

 

The system does not yet have the capability to alert someone if they have potentially been exposed to COVID through a contact.

 

Meanwhile, the Rhode Island Department of Health on Tuesday reported 26 new coronavirus-related deaths, as well as 134 more positive cases.

 

Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, who is the director of the health department, said 24 of them from long term care facilities. She added that 14 of the deaths occurred Monday, while the others happened on previous days.

 

“We continue to work aggressively and closely with our congregant care settings,” she Alexander-Scott said.

 

The total of fatalities across the state is now 532, with 12,951 cases.

 

https://turnto10.com/news/local/ri-reports-26-new-coronavirus-related-deaths-134-more-cases?fbclid=IwAR0m5VTOTzzOtoPg4EkuuM0-A0JVxDQlRYDQvUjqQuqVGMuYWjspV6btFew