Keep track of where you have been

It is important to keep track of high-risk locations you have been at and who you have been with, so you know who to tell if you test positive for COVID-19.

Download NZ COVID Tracer on the Apple Store Download NZ COVID Tracer on Google Play

What is happening with contact tracing

As Omicron is now widespread, we no longer need to contact trace individual cases. This means you do not need to maintain records for contact tracing purposes.

However, if you test positive for COVID-19, you need to tell the people you have been in contact with while infectious that you have COVID-19. This can include others you live with, your colleagues or workplace, friends, or school.

Even if your contacts do not have to isolate, they should still be given the information so they can make decisions for themselves.

What you should do

It is still a good idea to:

keep track of people you have been with
record any high-risk locations you have visited, for example hospitals or aged care facilities
keep Bluetooth tracing turned on in the NZ COVID Tracer app.

If you test positive, you will be sent a link to an online form, where you can share:

contact details of your contacts
details of any high-risk locations you have visited
Bluetooth data from the NZ COVID Tracer app.

This information can help stop the spread of the virus in high-risk locations and protect our vulnerable communities.

Keep the NZ COVID Tracer app

You can continue to use the NZ COVID Tracer app. We recommend you keep the NZ COVID Tracer app on your phone. We may bring back the contact tracing system if another variant of concern arrives in New Zealand.

NZ COVID Tracer app | Ministry of Health (external link)

You can also use the NZ COVID Tracer app to find key links to:

request free RATs so you can test for COVID-19 at home if you are unwell
record your RAT result
book your booster dose
find information if you test positive or are a Household Contact.

To access these links, select ‘Dashboard’, and open the ‘more info’ tab.

Turn on Bluetooth tracing

You should keep your Bluetooth tracing turned on. Notifications will still be sent out to people who have been near someone with COVID-19.

Bluetooth tracing allows you to receive an alert if you have been near another app user who tests positive for COVID-19. It is safe, private and anonymous.

How Bluetooth tracing works | Ministry of Health (external link)

How privacy is protected in the NZ COVID Tracer app | Ministry of Health (external link)