Covidsafe app overhaul compensates for 'handshakes' only connecting 27% of the time on some iPhones

Exclusive: the most recent test data and information about changes made to the app have been released under freedom of information

The makers of the Covidsafe app have had to overhaul the algorithm for determining close contacts to improve the functionality of the app on iPhones, Guardian Australia has learned, as new data suggests it is working only 27% of the time on some Apple mobiles.

Since launching in April, the Covidsafe app has consistently struggled to work on iPhones when the app is running in the background, or the screen is locked, due to issues with ensuring the bluetooth beacons or digital handshakes" are sent out to nearby devices of potential close contacts.