The COVIDSafe app, a health application developed by the Australian government against the novel coronavirus pandemic, is now being decommissioned.
(Photo : Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
A photo illustration shows a new COVIDSafe app by the Australian government as seen on an Iphone to install in Sydney on April 27, 2020.
Introduced by the Morrison government back in 2020, this application has been criticized by many users and experts because it is plagued with technical flaws.
Although this is the case, Australian officials are still spending money on the app. But, since state governments are not really using it, the COVIDSafe application has been considered an expensive failure.
COVIDSafe App Decommission
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the COVIDSafe app still received an update on Tuesday, Aug. 9. However, this update is not for any enhancements.
(Photo : Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
In this photo illustration, the Australian government coronavirus (COVID-19) tracking app 'COVIDSafe' is seen on April 26, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. The Australian government application will create a bluetooth connection between two phones with the application installed, log the interaction, and help the government identify potential COVID-19 cases.
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Instead, it was released to remove all the features of the health application. Now, when users are trying to access the online tool, they receive the "Please uninstall COVIDSafe" message.
"It is clear this app failed as a public health measure, and that's why we've acted to delete it. This failed app was a colossal waste of more than $21 million of taxpayers' money," said Health Minister Mark Butler.
Butler further shared that although the COVIDSafe app garnered more than 7.9 million registrations, less than 800 users allowed their data to be sent to the national store.
As of press time, the controversial health app is still being removed. The Australian government is expected to completely decommission the online tool on Aug. 16, as reported by ABC Net AU.
Was COVIDSafe Useful?
When the Australian government launched the COVIDSafe app, they were expecting around 40% of the nation's residents to register.
This means that roughly 10 million users should be using the health application. However, only 7.9 million decided to try the app.
The majority of these registrations (around 6 million) were in the first weeks of the app's launch. This means that very few individuals were added moving forward.
One of the main concerns of users is that they need to open their iPhones so that the health tool can properly function. Once their screens shut down, the app will no longer work.
You can view this link to learn more issues about the COVIDSafe application.
Previously, CDC claimed that the U.S. has some problems when it comes to COVID-19 utilization.
On the other hand, the FDA approved the COVID-19 vaccine for 6-month to 5-year-old individuals.
For more news updates about COVID-19 and other health topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.
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Written by: Griffin Davis
