Hasn't the tracing app triggered concerns about privacy protections and data security? Aren't there queries about how effectively the app works with your iPhone's Bluetooth?

The answers to these questions are, of course: yes and yes.

Certainly, there are legitimate questions about the COVIDSafe app. And this newspaper is determined to continue asking those questions, and to continue sharing the insights and opinions of experts, readers and, yes, even the likes of Barnaby Joyce - so that you can make up your own mind.

But we are also determined to see our city, our region and our nation get back to normal, to get back to business, as swiftly - and as safely - as possible.

That's why we think our readers should download the COVIDSafe app. Like you, we want the community shutdown to end and the social restrictions to be eased so hundreds of thousands of workers, small business owners and local traders - the people who own and run our favourite cafes and restaurants, cinemas and live music venues - can reclaim their livelihoods.

We want to go back to work, and for our children to be back in school. We want to get back out on the main oval at the weekend to play or watch footy, and then maybe head to the pub. But we want to do that without jeopardising what we have achieved as Canberrans and Australians over these difficult months, in which we've together helped control the spread of the disease in a way that should truly be the envy of the world.

So, how do we get there - back to life before anyone had even heard of COVID-19? And how do we do that without putting our frontline healthcare workers at risk?

Prime Minister Scott Morrison describes the COVIDSafe app as our "ticket" out of lockdown.

It is not, he says, a "silver bullet". But it will give state and territory governments the confidence to ease social restrictions sooner and help the economy recover faster because it allows health officials to identify more quickly people who may have come into contact with the coronavirus.

Sadly, we're all well aware of how infectious the virus is. We've seen the horror scenes overseas, and we've felt the heartbreak and fear caused here by the Ruby Princess, Tasmanian hospital, Adelaide airport and Sydney nursing home outbreaks.

So, if we're going to start the long journey back to normal, our health system needs to be armed with the tools to respond swiftly if and when the virus is detected.

The app is one of those tools. The government says the data it collects is encrypted, only available to health officers and deleted after 21 days.

Some tech experts have pointed out that COVIDSafe is nowhere near as powerful and intrusive as Facebook and Google. Even so, the collection, use or disclosure of the app's data for purposes unrelated to contact tracing will be a crime that carries severe penalties.

READ MORE:

Given all that, and given the sacrifices we've already made to flatten the curve of infections and protect Australia's health, downloading an app to our phones seems like the least a citizen can do.

Just think: in less time than it takes to like a string of Facebook comments about data privacy, you can activate COVIDSafe and help reactivate daily life, reduce deaths and get Australia back on the road to economic recovery.