Apple and Google Simplify COVID-19 Contact Tracing Without Dedicated Apps
Apple and Google introduce Exposure Notification Express, a system-level tool that allows public health authorities to deploy COVID-19 contact tracing without building custom apps. Users receive direct notifications to opt-in rather than downloading software from app stores.
Apple and Google roll out a new system-level tool called Exposure Notification Express to simplify COVID-19 contact tracing. This technology allows public health authorities to implement digital exposure notifications without needing to develop or maintain their own dedicated applications. Apple introduces this capability immediately through the iOS 13.7 update, while Google plans to launch a similar automatically generated application for Android devices later this month.
This updated approach significantly changes how users participate in contact tracing by removing the need to download a specific app. Instead, individuals receive a system notification containing information provided by their local health authority, from which they can easily opt-in. On Apple devices, opting in installs a provisioning profile, whereas Android devices receive an auto-generated app through the Google Play store.
Exposure Notification Express coexists with existing public health apps rather than replacing them entirely. Local health authorities still elect to participate and customize the messaging, but they avoid the complex process of software development. With 20 countries already using the existing API and 25 U.S. states exploring its adoption, this streamlined system dramatically lowers the technical barrier for widespread digital contact tracing.