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COVID-19: Wisconsin Exposure Notification App

Use your phone to slow the spread of COVID-19

The WI Exposure Notification app is available to download for free from the Google Play Store or enable in Settings on your iPhone. The more people who use the app, the faster we can stop the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin.

For technical assistance, email WiExposureNotification@
dhs.wisconsin.gov

What is WI Exposure Notification?

WI Exposure Notification is a smartphone app that uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. Once you activate the app, your phone exchanges anonymous signals with other phones that are near it for at least 15 minutes. If somebody who has the app tests positive for COVID-19, they can then send an alert using the app to those other phones. This will allow people who are close contacts to quickly get the care they need and avoid exposing others to the virus.

How to add WI Exposure Notification to your phone

Android

Android users who are 18 and older can download WI Exposure Notification from the Google Play Store.

 

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For technical assistance, email WIExposureNotification@dhs.wisconsin.gov.

iPhone

For iPhone users who are 18 and older and are running iOS version 12.5 or later, WI Exposure Notification can be enabled directly from your iPhone settings—no download needed.

  1. Go into Settings.
  2. Scroll down to Exposure Notifications.
  3. Turn on Exposure Notifications.
  4. Select United States > Wisconsin.

For technical assistance, email WIExposureNotification@dhs.wisconsin.gov

 

How WI Exposure Notification protects your privacy

DHS is committed to protecting your privacy. Wisconsin Exposure Notification does not gather:

 

Name icon

Your name

 

Location icon

Your location or movements

 

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The identity of the people you meet

 

WI Exposure Notification uses Bluetooth Low Energy technology to identify and notify close contacts. The Bluetooth signals that phones exchange are randomly assigned and change every 15–20 minutes. The app does not store any of your personal information or remember your location.

 

FAQ:

What do I do if I am notified of an exposure through the app? 

We recommend you monitor for symptoms, wear a mask for 10 days, and test for COVID-19 five days after exposure or sooner if you develop symptoms. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, antiviral treatments are available to help prevent you from becoming seriously ill, being hospitalized, or dying. Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is offering telehealth services to quickly connect with a clinician who can determine if you are eligible for this treatment and prescribe it. For information on this service, go to the DHS Secure a COVID-19 Treatment Telehealth Appointment webpage.

How do I notify others about my positive COVID-19 result with the app?

If you test positive for COVID-19, you can share your result in the app by clicking “Share a COVID-19 diagnosis” and following the instructions given. The app will then notify other app users who were close contacts, but they will not learn your identity.

211 Wisconsin

Call 211 or 877-947-2211 to get referrals for thousands of services across Wisconsin. For COVID-19 questions, text COVID to 211-211. Language assistance is available.

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Last revised March 20, 2023