Virus app has identified 17 new contacts

All of the people were in NSW.

The $2 million COVIDSafe app has been widely panned for not discovering many unknown close contacts.

Department of Health associate secretary Caroline Edwards said more than 1800 people in Victoria who were contacted by contact tracers had the app.

"Obviously in the context of very strong restrictions people aren't having contact with many people," she told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday.

"But we think that puts us in an extremely good position to use the app going forward as restrictions ease in Victoria."

Seven million Australians have downloaded and registered with the mobile phone app.

Australian Associated Press