What you need to know
- The UK government plans to release an app alerting people if they come too close to someone carrying COVID-19.
- The app will be operated on an "opt-in" basis.
- It is apparently going to be released just before or after the end of lockdown.
A report claims the UK government is planning to release an app that will alert users if they come too close to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Sky News:
The government is preparing to release an app that alerts people if they come too close to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, Sky News can reveal.The contact tracking app, which will operate on an opt-in basis, will be released either just before or just after the lockdown is lifted, according to several people with close knowledge of the project.NHS bosses hope the app will attract more than 50% of the population, as large numbers of people using it together will be necessary for it to work effectively.
The app was first noted by Health Service Journal some time ago, however, the details of the app's application have "only recently been agreed". The app will reportedly use Bluetooth to detect other phones close by, "then store a record of those contacts on the device."
If someone tests positive for the virus, they can then alert people they have recently been in contact with. A period of delay will be used to prevent accidental identification. The data will reportedly not be sent to a central authority in order to alleviate privacy concerns. The app would likely be able to help people avoid social interaction if they find out that they have been in contact with someone who has the virus. According to the report the app will be released shortly before or after the end of lockdown, which means the release is likely some weeks away.
