DOH will ping iPhones about WA Notify app

In the coming days, DOH will begin sending availability alerts to iPhone users across Washington to encourage them to enable COVID-19 exposure notifications with WA Notify. If someone doesn’t have WA Notify enabled on their iPhone, they’ll be prompted to enable exposure notifications. The alert is not an indication that they have been exposed to COVID-19, but rather to encourage them to enable WA Notify.

People who wish to opt out of enabling WA Notify will be able to do so by selecting, Not Now, then Don’t Agree. To opt out of receiving future availability alerts, go to Settings, select Exposure Notifications, then toggle Availability Alerts off.

We want you to be aware of this promotion and iPhone setting instructions in case community members reach out to you with questions. The alert is not a notification that they have been exposed to COVID-19, but rather to encourage them to enable WA Notify.

COVID is sticking around for a while, but with a few simple actions like getting vaccinated and boosted, getting tested and staying home if sick or exposed, wearing a mask in crowds, and using WA Notify, you can help stop the spread of COVID in your community. The more people who use WA Notify, the greater the benefit for all Washingtonians.

WA Notify works on both Android and Apple smartphones, but at this time we have not scheduled an alert for inactive users on Android smartphones. For more information on WA Notify, visit WaNotify.org.

Email DOH-Wanotify-Epi@doh.wa.gov with questions.