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FAQs
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Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if I get a positive home test?
If using an Android device follow these steps:

  1. Tap on the NM Notify app.
  2. Tap on "Share your test result to help stop the spread of COVID-19."
  3. Tap "Continue."
  4. The next screen will ask if you have a code. Tap "I need a code."
  5. On the next screen, enter your mobile phone number and the date you took your COVID-19 test.
  6. Check the box "I have received a positive COVID-19 test in the past 14 days."
  7. Tap "Send code."
  8. You should receive an SMS with a code to use in NM Notify. This is called your "verification code."
  9. Enter that code in your app on the next screen that says, "Enter your verification code."
  10. Tap "Verify."
  11. On the next screen, answer the question "Have you had symptoms?"
  12. Tap “Continue.”
  13. On the next screen, review your information and tap "Continue."
  14. When the screen "Share your random IDs.." appears, tap "Share."
  15. You have completed the steps to anonymously share your positive test results.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

If using an iOS device follow these steps:

  1. Tap on the "Settings" icon.
  2. Scroll down to "Exposure Notifications."
  3. Tap on "Share a COVID-19 Diagnosis."
  4. If you already have a code, you can enter it now.
  5. If you need a code, tap on the text "Didn’t get a code?"
  6. Enter the date of your COVID-19 test and your mobile phone number.
  7. Check the box to acknowledge you have received a positive test result for COVID-19.
  8. Tap "Continue."
  9. The next screen will confirm that a code has been sent
  10. Tap the link in the text message or the system notification
  11. Tap "Continue."
  12. Enter symptom information.
  13. Tap "Share."

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

How can I get exposure notifications on my phone?

Android users can download and install NM Notify from the Google Play Store. Watch this video for instructions.

If you have an iPhone 5S, 6, or 6 Plus, update to iOS 12.5. If you have an iPhone 6S or newer, please update to iOS 13.7 or higher. Then, turn on NM Notify in settings. Watch this video for instructions or follow these simple steps:

  1. Tap on the “Settings” icon.
  2. Scroll down to “Exposure Notifications”.
  3. Tap “Turn On Exposure Notifications.”
  4. A prompt for How Exposure Notifications Work will pop up. Tap “Continue.”
  5. Follow prompts to select Country and State (United States, New Mexico).
  6. Review and agree to the NMDOH’s Terms and Conditions.
  7. When prompted, allow Exposure Notifications to access your phone’s Bluetooth.
  8. Tap “Turn On” to enable the notifications on your phone.
Will people know if I test positive?

No. NM Notify does not share any information about you with anyone else. When someone receives a notification about possible exposure, they will only know that someone they were near in the last 14 days tested positive for COVID-19. They won’t know who the person was or where the exposure occurred.

Do I have to opt-in for this app to work?

Yes. NM Notify is free and voluntary. You can opt out at any time. Simply turn it off in settings (iOS) or delete the app (Android). All random codes the phone has stored from app users who have been near you will be deleted and cannot be recovered.

I received a positive test for COVID-19. How do I get my verification code?

The NM Department of Health will text a link with a one-time verification code to people with positive test results. The verification code will expire within 24 hours. When you complete the testing registration with the NM Department of Health and consent to receive texts, you should receive a text message within a few days. You may also receive a call from the NM Department of Health. We will ask you about your symptoms and who you have been near.

If you do not receive a text with your verification code within 48 hours of a positive result, please contact the NM Department of Health through email here.

If you test positive for COVID-19, stay home and away from other people for 10 days. Tell anyone you were near in the 48 hours before symptoms started that they may have been exposed. People with COVID-19 need to stay away from others for at least 10 days. People who have been near someone with COVID-19 but who don’t have symptoms should stay home and away from others for 10 days, regardless of test results. If you have been near someone with COVID-19, it can take up to 14 days to get sick with COVID-19.

Do I need to have NM Notify open on my phone for it to work properly?

No. NM Notify will work in the background.

Will NM Notify affect my battery life or data plan?

The service was designed to use Bluetooth and data, but it does not consume much power. It should not have a noticeable impact on battery life or data usage.

How is my privacy protected?

NM Notify is based on Google Apple Exposure Notification technology, which was designed to protect user privacy. The app never collects or shares any location data or personal information with Google, Apple, the NM Department of Health, or other users. Participation is entirely voluntary. Users can opt in or out at any time. For more information about how user privacy is protected, see the NM Notify Privacy Policy.

Does this App track where I am or where I have been?

No. The app does not use any kind of GPS or location services that would identify your location or your movement. It uses Bluetooth technology to determine how close your phone is to another phone that has the same app.

Is this a “Contact Tracing” App?

No. Contact tracing identifies individuals who have been near a person who has COVID-19. NM Notify does not track or trace information about the people you are near, so it doesn’t do “contact tracing.” The app doesn’t collect or exchange any personal information. It isn’t possible for anyone to know who you have been near.

Can visitors use this service?

NM Notify is customized for New Mexico. Each state in the USA needs to have its own customized version. If you’re going to be in New Mexico for an extended period, it would make sense to enable NM Notify. However, when you go home or if you get a positive test result for COVID-19 outside of New Mexico, you would not be able to share that result using NM Notify. The NM Notify service currently communicates with exposure notifications apps from several other states, and more are being added. We recommend visitors find an up-to-date list of states with apps that communicate with each other by visiting the Association of Public Health Laboratories here.

Is NM Notify a replacement for contract tracing?

Contact tracing is still an essential tool for understanding and stopping the spread of disease. During a contact tracing interview, public health workers provide resources for people who have COVID-19 and collect information about who the person has been near. NM Notify does not replace this important method for stopping the spread of COVID-19. NM Notify does assist these efforts. Because we do not know the identity of people who use NM Notify, we cannot connect the notification you receive from this app and test results received by the NM Department of Health. To stop the spread, we need both. Every person who stays away from others after being near a person who has COVID-19 is doing their part to stop the spread of this disease!

How does NM Notify work?

When you enable NM Notify, your phone exchanges random, anonymous codes with nearby phones that also have NM Notify or a similar app from another state enabled. The app uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to exchange these random codes without sharing any information about you. If another NM Notify user you've been near in the last two weeks later tests positive for COVID-19 and adds their verification code to the app, you’ll get an anonymous notification that you’ve been exposed. This lets you quickly get the care you need and helps you stop spreading COVID-19 to people near you.

How quickly will I be notified if I have been exposed?

You will be notified when the person who has COVID-19 authorizes NM Notify to send an alert. You can be notified of any exposure that happened within the last 14 days. How quickly you receive a notification after you’ve been exposed depends on when that person received their positive result and how quickly their information was shared in NM Notify.

I received multiple notifications on different days. What does that mean?

Quarantine is based on your exposure to someone with COVID-19. If you have close contact with different people who reported their positive test results, you will receive separate notifications for each of these exposures.

NMDOH

Learn more about New Mexico’s COVID-19 response and find additional resources at NMDOH.

For questions, please click click here.