The U.K. government has launched its COVID-19 app for the National Health System that works with the Exposure Notification system from Apple and Google. It’s available for people in England and Wales.
UK COVID-19 App
The app, which you can download here, can send alerts to smartphone users if they have been in the vicinity of someone who has COVID-19. Here are some of its features:
- Trace: Find out when you’ve been near other app users who have tested positive for coronavirus
- Alert: Lets you know the level of coronavirus risk in your postcode district.
- Check-in: Get alerted if you have visited a venue where you may have come into contact with coronavirus, using a simple QR code scanner. No more form filling.
- Symptoms: Check if you have coronavirus symptoms and see if you need to order a test.
- Test: Helps you order a test if you need to.
- Isolate: Keep track of your self-isolation countdown and access relevant advice.
Once you’ve downloaded the app, go to Settings > Exposure Notifications to enable the feature.
If I was going to be an awkward cuss I’d point out that this is not a UK Covid-19 App, its for England and Wales only.
There’s a separate app for NHS Scotland called Protect-Scot, some of the features in the England and Wales app are perhaps better than Protect-Scot, but I don’t know if there’s a privacy compromise in the E+W version that isn’t in the Protect-Scot app. For example, you can’t QR check-in, or receive a Risk Level update or perform a symptom diagnosis using Protect-Scot. I refused to install Protect-Scot until I was satisfied that there were no tracking features, and you control through iOS access to hardware devices, so I’m content and its installed.
Still waiting for something here… not holding my breath.
I wouldn’t hold your breath, you’ll pass out. This virus is horrible if you are unlucky enough to get a big viral load. Take care, stay well, assume everybody is bugged unless you know otherwise. The case for wearing a mask has just become a legitimate reason for buggering up every security forces facial recognition trial, and Ring cameras. Result!