This “Privacy Policy” explains how the State of Minnesota (“State”) collects, uses, discloses and otherwise processes end users’ data in connection with the COVIDaware MN mobile application (“COVIDaware MN app”). This Privacy Policy also describes the choices available to individuals with respect to data when using the COVIDaware MN app.
The COVIDaware MN app is intended to supplement existing contact tracing efforts by State in response to COVID-19. Contact tracing consists of notifying individuals who have been in close contact with someone who is infected with a virus, such as COVID-19, or other infectious agent and could potentially infect others. The COVIDaware MN app allows users to store data collected and processed by the app for the purposes of COVID-19-related contact tracing locally on the respective user’s mobile device. The COVIDaware MN app can notify users if they have been exposed to a COVID-19-infected individual who is also using the app and provide instructions on how and where to get tested.
State never collects or processes any personally identifiable information from the COVIDaware MN app. Random codes are assigned to each device using the COVIDaware MN app. Each user's random code changes frequently to further protect their identity. When a COVIDaware MN app user comes into close contact with another COVIDaware MN app user, their random codes are exchanged using Bluetooth. Random codes for close contacts are stored in a user’s device for 14 days. No personally identifiable or location information is collected, stored, or exchanged.
If a user tests positive for COVID-19, they may choose to notify other COVIDaware MN app users who may have had close contact with them. To trigger such notification, a user who tests positive for COVID-19 must enter a verification code provided by their public health contact tracer. This verification code is randomly generated by public health and only used to enter a positive diagnosis in the COVIDaware MN app, if the user chooses to do so. Once a valid verification code is entered into the COVIDaware MN app, a risk calculation is made using the time, duration, and Bluetooth signal attenuation (proximity indicator) collected by the COVIDaware MN app for each contact event between COVIDaware MN app users. Users who are calculated to have been in close contact with the user who tested positive will be alerted. Users may receive exposure notifications in the COVIDaware MN app to let them know they encountered a possible exposure and an approximate date range within which the possible exposure may have occurred. The app will link the user to guidance from public health so that the user can learn how to protect their health and the health of others through infection control measures.
Using the COVIDaware MN app is completely voluntary, and you may choose to install and uninstall the COVIDaware MN app at any time. The COVIDaware MN App will never collect, track, or store your location, GPS information, or personal information.
Enabling exposure notification in the COVIDaware MN app is your choice. You can enable and disable such notification at any time. It must be enabled for the COVIDaware MN app to exchange the random codes with other COVIDaware MN app users who you come into close contact with, for you to receive exposure notifications, or for you to notify other COVIDaware MN app users if you test positive for COVID-19 by sharing your random codes through a positive report.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may choose to notify other COVIDaware MN app users who you have been in close contact with. Providing notification to other COVIDaware MN app users with whom you have had close contact is completely voluntary. The notification will not disclose your identity or any personally identifying information. To enable such notifications, you will need a valid, randomly generated verification code provided by the Minnesota Department of Health. This verification code is used to verify your positive diagnosis and prevent false reports. This verification code is not associated with your identity. Once you enter a valid verification code into the COVIDaware MN App and you confirm that you wish to enable notifications, other COVIDaware MN App users who may have been in close contact with you will be notified. Such notifications will not include your identity, or the specific date, time, or location of the exposure. The notifications will provide an approximate date range within which the exposure may have occurred.
Participation in the COVIDaware MN app may be terminated at any time by deleting or uninstalling the COVIDaware MN app from your device. After the COVIDaware MN app is deleted or uninstalled, your device will no longer generate or exchange random codes with other users. Any random codes that were previously shared with other COVIDaware MN App users will be automatically deleted after 14 days from the date the code was generated.
The following event data may be processed and collected in the COVIDaware MN app:
We use the above event information to understand how the COVIDaware MN app is being used. This data may be shared in aggregate and anonymous form with other entities. It may be used in aggregate and anonymous form for statistical or scientific research purposes. Any information shared will not include any personal or location information nor can it be used to identify any COVIDaware MN app user.
If you opt-in to receive push notifications within the COVIDaware MN app, it may send push notifications or alerts to your mobile device from time to time. You can deactivate push notifications and alerts at any time by deleting the COVIDaware MN app, changing your device settings, or changing the push notification settings within the COVIDaware MN app.
COVIDaware MN app is not intended for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly allow a child under 13 to use the app. If you are between the ages of 13 and 17, you can only use COVIDaware MN app if your parent or legal guardian has reviewed and agreed to the Terms of Service on your behalf.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes to our Privacy Policy, we will notify you by communicating the changes through the COVIDaware MN app. The notification will indicate when such changes will become effective.
If you have any feedback, or any questions, comments, or concerns relating to this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at covidawaremn.com or write to us at the following address:
Office of MN.IT Services
Attn: COVIDaware MN
658 Cedar Street
St. Paul, MN 55155