Last week, New York launched its COVID Alert NY – the official Exposure Notification App created by the New York State Department of Health in partnership with Google and Apple. Now you can use your phone in the fight against COVID-19 and get exposure alerts, without compromising your privacy or personal information.

It was just last month when SUNY Oswego was selected to be a part of the testing of the COVID Alert NY App.  Six hundred members of the SUNY Oswego campus community – students, faculty and staff – applied to participate in the pilot (with 300 members selected).  The college received positive feedback and now joins New York State and SUNY in rolling this out to its entire campus population.

What is COVID Alert NY?

COVID Alert NY is New York State’s official Exposure Notification App. This is a free smartphone app for anyone 18+ that lives and/or works in New York.  The COVID Alert NY app notifies users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Upon receiving an exposure notification, the app will encourage users to contact their physician or the State Health Department hotline (1-833-227-5045) to get more information about quarantining and testing. Anyone who downloads the app does not have to worry about being tracked, identified or having their personal information shared. The app is completely anonymous and does not track your location or movement. No personal data is collected. COVID Alert NY uses Bluetooth proximity-enabled exposure notification technology provided by Apple and Google which is safe and secure.

What can you do?

Download the COVID Alert NY App by visiting ny.gov/covidalerts or directly from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The more New Yorkers using the COVID Alert NY app, the more effective it will be as a tool to fight against COVID-19. 

The COVID Alert NY app puts the power in the hands of the SUNY Oswego campus community and all New Yorkers to protect their neighbors, friends, family and community at large. Together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19.  For more information, visit ny.gov/covidalerts or SUNY Oswego's Oswego Forward website.