England set to trial new attempt at coronavirus contact tracing app using Apple-Google tech

The Apple-Google model is more privacy-centric than the initial app the NHS Track and Trace team built
Northern Ireland recently launched its own contact tracing app on July 31 meanwhile health officials have announced plans to strengthen regional contact tracing in England
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Amelia Heathman7 August 2020

After initial launches, delays and setbacks, a new version of England’s coronavirus contact tracing app could be up and running in the next few days.

The initial test-and-trace app was first tested in the Isle of Wight earlier this year but was beset by technical issues which meant it wasn’t ready for a nationwide launch on May 28.

Part of this was down to the fact the app worked on a centralised model, which would give the UK government information on who came into contact with whom and where. In addition, this centralised model wasn’t using the Apple-Google API, established by the two tech giants to allow their respective phone software to work in tandem with one another — without this tech, it would be harder for an iPhone and an Android phone to record that they had been in close proximity with one another which would affect the efficiency of the model.

Now it appears there could be a limited roll-out of the new contact tracing app as soon as next week, according to the BBC. The app uses the Apple-Google API so it will be able to detect other smartphones, including a feature which could alert people when they’ve been within 2m of another person for more than 15 minutes, as well as allow people to scan QR codes to log when they visit a particular establishment.

It will also allow people to identify symptoms and order tests if needed and provide support if they go into self-isolation. Those using the app will receive an alert if they have been close to someone who has been diagnosed with coronavirus. The team behind the app is also working to deliver medical test results though that won’t be available next week.

There are concerns a second coronavirus would be twice as bad and the UK government has stepped up measures for local lockdowns, with Preston thought to be next.

Contact tracing apps are a helpful tool to prevent the spread of the virus but it needs to ensure people are actually using it to report symptoms otherwise it isn’t possible to alert others who have come into contact with them.

If you want to contribute to research around the spread of Covid-19, then you can download the Covid Symptom Tracker app, powered by ZOE, with all the data analysed by King’s College London and shared with the NHS. Over 4 million people regularly log into the app to share how they’re feeling, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.

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