State launches ‘Crush COVID RI’ mobile app with hopes of continued testing and better contact tracing

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – The Rhode Island Department of Health announced new daily data for the state Tuesday.

There was a big jump in deaths for the state from Monday.  The RIDOH reports and additional 26 COVID-19 related fatalities on Tuesday. This brings the state’s death toll to 532.

134 new positive cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases for R.I. to 12,591.

Currently there are 247 people in the hospital, 59 in the ICU, and 44 on a ventilator.

Governor Raimondo stressed that the virus is a fact and is with us. She added this is our life for now. She said, “We can learn how to live with the virus.”

Today’s press briefing included an exciting announcement, a tool that will help Rhode Island continue to battle to the virus. A new phone app: “Crush COVID Rhode Island.”

This comprehensive app is available on Google Play and Apple, offered in both English and Spanish free for download.

Rhode Island is one of the first states in the country to role out a full range service and informational app.

One feature of the app informs you where to get resources. For example, if someone needs food delivery, if a healthcare worker feels it is not safe to live at home – they can find free housing, and if you test positive and are unable to isolate safely – you can find a place to safely isolate right at your fingertips.

Press conferences will be streamed on the app and RIDOH will post updates as well.

The second feature of the app will assist in maintaining Rhode Island’s top spot in America with testing. Thus far, 12% of the state’s population has been tested and has the most testing per capita.

With this feature, you will be able to schedule a test and find locations where to be tested – a primary care physician, the CVS site, or a walk up site.

As months go on, changes will be made to how testing is done. The mobile app will be the place to go to access information, which is constantly updated.

The app also features symptom tracking if you are sick. Once a day, the user will be prompted with a 10 second survey regarding symptoms. This survey will provide a good view across the state if there are any hotspots in specific neighborhoods.

In addition, there is a virtual location diary. The diary is similar to the contact tracing notebook Gov. Raimondo has asked Rhode Islanders to keep throughout majority of the pandemic.

If the user chooses to enable the location diary, a map of where the user has been for 10 minutes or more will automatically be created. Data around where you have been will be stored on your phone only if enabled and automatically deleted after 20 days.

If a user experiences symptoms and receives a call from RIDOH regarding the user’s condition, that individual will have the ability to share his or her location diary. The user can share the complete diary or read the information stored on the phone to the Department of Health worker. All information will be shared without a name and have an ID number attached to it. Shared information will be used exclusively for contact tracing in COVID-19.

Raimondo stated she understands that we all have our own rights to live freely, but everyone is connected through COVID-19.

She said the true ability of the app will work best if everyone is using it. “We can’t stop it, but we can contain it,” Raimondo, said. It is a way to quickly identify and track hotspots.

Lastly, the app is a tool that will most likely experience some glitches, however, the governor suggests giving it a try and another version should be released in about a month.

Feedback can be provided through health.ri.gov/crushcovid.

The governor announced that childcare centers are still set to open on June 1, after receiving feedback from many saying that opening businesses and not childcare is impractical.

50 thousand surgical masks will be distributed to childcare providers throughout the state to get them running safely.