Mike Peterson
The UK National Health Service is rolling out its coronavirus contact tracing app based on the Exposure Notification framework created by Apple and Google.
As of Wednesday evening, the NHS COVID-19 app should be available to residents of Wales and England on the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. Although originally slated to debut Thursday, the app appears to have gone live a bit early.
As with other Exposure Notification apps based on the Apple-Google API, the app will alert users if they come in close proximity to someone that has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The system relies on short-range Bluetooth tracking and doesn't collect any location data or personally identifiable information. All data that is collected is stored in a decentralized manner on a user's device, per Apple and Google's rules.
Additionally, NHS COVID-19 has other features meant to aid in contact tracing, including the ability to scan QR codes to register visits to locations like restaurants or stores.
NHS officials initially rejected the Apple-Google contact tracing system because it stored data in a decentralized manner. After its proprietary system delivered poor results, the NHS backtracked on that decision and opted to work with the Apple and Google framework.
The UK's app joins a growing list of other digital contact tracing solutions in Europe and beyond, including in the U.S., Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, Latvia, Germany, and Poland.
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Wesley Hilliard
AppleInsider Staff
Andrew Orr
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8 Comments
I’ve the Pennsylvania version. Easy enough to set up.
Er....NHS Scotland released its app last week and it has been downloaded over 1.1 million times. There’s no singular UK app...
This twitter thread sums up the key points quite well: https://twitter.com/hadleybeeman/status/1309008721838772225
What’s slightly odd is that in Settings -> NHS COVID-19 -> Exposure Notifications is a blank screen. No UI other than < Back. Do others see something here?
Settings -> Exposure Notifications offers an option to Turn On Exposure Notifications, but that just shows a regional list and a link to download the app.