WA Notify Texts

Did You Get a Text or Phone Notification from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)?

 

There are two types of text messages/notifications you may receive by phone.

Notification of a Positive COVID-19 Test

DOH sends a notification and/or text message with a verification link to all phone numbers associated with a positive COVID-19 test result reported to DOH. This notification provides information on how to anonymously notify other WA Notify users that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

If you are a WA Notify user, you only need to tap the notification or click the link in the text message and follow all the steps in WA Notify to anonymously alert other users of a possible exposure.

If you are not a WA Notify user, you can ignore the text. If you'd like to learn more about WA Notify, including how to add it to your phone, visit WANotify.org

WA Notify users who use a self-test (also called at-home tests) and test positive for COVID-19 can request a verification code to anonymously notify other WA Notify users that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Visit the “How to notify others if you test positive for COVID-19 with a self-test” section on WANotify.org.

Notification of a Possible COVID-19 Exposure

WA Notify users who may have been exposed will receive an exposure notification.

What do the Texts and Notifications Look Like?

Image of Notification

Content of Pop-Up Notification

Share Your COVID-19 Diagnosis

Tap here to anonymously let others know they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Follow the steps to help keep your community safe. Your personal info will not be shared.

Image of Text

Content of Text

Message from (Mensaje del) WA Dept. of Health:

This number was given for a recent COVID-19 test. If this phone uses WANotify AND belongs to the person tested, please click the link within 24 hours. Follow the steps to anonymously alert others who may have been exposed.

https://us-wa.en.expressly/v?c=8w5io5c38ipo24fc

Se dio este numéro para una prueba reciente de COVID-19. Si este teléfono usa WANotify Y es de quien se hizo la prueba, haga clic en el enlace en las próximas 24 horas. Siga los pasos para alertar anónimamente a quienes tal vez hayan sido expuestos.

NOT the person tested? Need more information? Visit wanotify.org/text

¿NO es quien se hizo la prueba? ¿Desea más información? Visite notificawa.org/texto

Image of Text

Content of Text

Message from WA Dept. of Health:

If this phone uses WANotify AND belongs to the person tested, please click the link within 24 hours. Follow the steps to anonymously alert others who may have been exposed.

https://us-wa.en.expressly/v?c=5b56h13n80q9onll

NOT the person tested? Need more information? Visit wanotify.org/text.

Image of Text

Content of Text

Mensaje del Departamento de Salud del Estado de Washington:

Si este teléfono usa WANotify Y es de quien se hizo la prueba, haga clic en el enlace en las próximas 24 horas. Siga los pasos alertar anónimamente a quienes tal vez hayan sido expuestos.

https://us-wa.en.expressly/v?c=dvo8iije3v33saoj

¿NO es quien se hizo la prueba? ¿Desea más información? Visite notificawa.org/texto.

Image of Exposure Notification

Content of Exposure Notification

You may have been exposed to COVID-19

You have been near someone recently who tested positive for COVID-19. What you do next matters and we're here to help. Tap to learn more.

What Should I Do if I Received a Text or Notification?

WA Notify users should click the link in the text or tap the notification and follow all the steps to anonymously confirm their results in the app. This anonymously alerts other WA Notify users they've been near recently of possible exposure to COVID-19. Allowing WA Notify users to anonymously confirm their results prevents the spread of COVID-19 more quickly. Public health may still reach out and offer a verification link or code during the case investigation process.

Please contact your primary care doctor or testing provider if:

• You received a text or notification, but have not received your official test results
• You have questions about your test result

Common Questions

If WA Notify doesn't know who I am, how did I get a text or notification?

The texts and notifications are sent by DOH, not WA Notify. DOH sends a text and/or a notification to everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 because we do not know who uses WA Notify. If you are not using WA Notify, you can ignore the text and notification.

How does DOH know who to send a text or notification?

By law, positive test results from several infectious diseases must be reported to the state, along with contact information. DOH uses this information to perform case investigations and contact tracing to stop the spread of disease. Notifying everyone who tests positive allows WA Notify users to act quickly and anonymously alert others of possible exposure.

I'm not using WA Notify. Why did you text me?

DOH sends a text message and/or a pop-up notification to phone numbers used by people recently tested positive for COVID-19.

DOH only knows who tests positive – we don't know who uses WA Notify. By sending texts to everyone, we can help WA Notify users anonymously alert others of possible exposure more quickly and potentially save lives.

If you aren't using WA Notify, no action is needed. If you'd like to learn more about WA Notify, including how to add it to your phone, visit WANotify.org

What phone number will the text come from?

The number DOH will send from is 1-844-986-3040.

I received a notification or text but the person tested was a family or household member. What should I do?

The WA Notify user who tested positive should follow the steps to anonymously alert others who may have been exposed, so you should ignore any texts or notifications that are not meant for you.

If your family or household member is a WA Notify user, has tested positive, and still needs to confirm their result in WA Notify, they can follow the steps in the “How to notify others if you test positive for COVID-19 with a self-test” section on WANotify.org.

How much time do I have to tap the notification or activate the verification link?

You have 24 hours after receiving the notification or text message to follow the steps to notify others in WA Notify. If you are not able to tap the notification or click the verification link within that time, you may request a verification code in WA Notify by following the steps in the “How to notify others if you test positive for COVID-19 with a self-test” section on WANotify.org.

Can more than one person use the text or notification to activate a verification link in WA Notify?

No. If your family or household member is a WA Notify user, has tested positive, and still needs to confirm their result in WA Notify, they can follow the steps in the “How to notify others if you test positive for COVID-19 with a self-test” section on WANotify.org.

How do I find my date of exposure in WA Notify?

On an iPhone:

1. Go to Settings
2. Select Exposure Notifications or enter Exposure Notifications in the Search Bar
3. Your approximate date of possible exposure will be shown under “You may have been exposed to COVID-19”

On an Android:

1. Open the WA Notify app
2. Select See Details under “Possible exposure reported”
3. Your approximate date of possible exposure will be shown under “Possible Exposure Date”