MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network-WSAU) – Wisconsin’s app to track the coronavirus is now live. The Wisconsin Exposure Notification app uses your phone’s Bluetooth to ping other, nearby phones.
If you test positive, the state gives you a code for the app, and the app then notifies all of the phones you were near that they were close to someone who has tested positive for the virus.
There are no names involved, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services says the app is private and anonymous.
Meanwhile, a new strain of coronavirus has not been detected in Wisconsin – at least not yet.
The state’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Ryan Westergaard, said on Tuesday that a relatively small number of COVID-19 tests performed here get the full genome sequencing, which led to the discovery of the new strain in the U.K. and South Africa.
“It’s been several thousand that we’ve done this full genome sequencing. So far we have not seen any of the patterns that are identical to the strain that we’re discussing in the UK. But we’re continuing to look for it.” Westergaard said that doesn’t mean the new strain is not here – which should serve as a reminder to take necessary actions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
“It’s a relatively small number of viruses that we test for that get the full genome sequencing. So it’s another reminder that we need to be really aggressive and really mindful of preventing transmission of disease everywhere.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not documented any cases of the British variant in the United States — but experts, even at the CDC, say it’s probably already here but hasn’t been detected yet.
