Would you install and use an NHS Covid tracking app?

[pip t]

Going into trials today on the IoW again, plus the Borough of Newham in London, and NHS Volunteer Responders.

https://twitter.com/leokelion/status/1293862200881...

Twitter said:

NHS Test and Trace App trialled from today with residents of the Isle of Wight, the borough of Newham in London and NHS Volunteer Responders. Will include Google-Apple contact tracing tech, QR code scans and alerts on local prevalence based on 1st part of users' post code. Will also advise users to self-isolate based on them reporting their symptoms, offer ability to book a test and give a day count down on how long you should stay in quarantine.

It is also open sourced, with the codebase already available on GitHub.

https://github.com/nhsx/covid19-app-system-public

[768]

More on the new app here.

[pip t]

And an in depth article by Ian Levy (Technical Director NCSC) here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/nhs-test-and-tra...

[pip t]

So to resurrect this slightly - iOS 13.7 was released today, which allows exposure notifications without an app. Sort of.

Essentially, the functionality is now baked into iOS (And I believe Google has done similar for Android). If you have it switched on, your phone can alert you if you've come into contact with someone who tests +ve for CV19. But without an app you can't put in any test result you may receive.

None of this works in the UK yet, as it needs to be 'turned on' by your health authority.

Also, stand by for a second peak of people claiming it's suddenly magically appeared on their phone, installed by 'the bad people'.....

[itsnotarace]

Serious questions need to be asked about Palantir's involvement and what NHS data they have been allowed to take

[thetapeworm]

I appreciate it doesn't add a lot of value to this discussion but Russell Kane's take on the "world beating track and trace system" is on the mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hepeIQowYeQ

(some swears)

What strikes me the most is how much the current "system" of people having to check themselves in at places via QR codes is so optional / unenforced, back at the start of track and trace I'd presumed you wouldn't get in the building before giving your details.

It really shouldn't be this hard.

[Scrump]

pip t said:

So to resurrect this slightly - iOS 13.7 was released today, which allows exposure notifications without an app. Sort of.

Essentially, the functionality is now baked into iOS (And I believe Google has done similar for Android). If you have it switched on, your phone can alert you if you've come into contact with someone who tests +ve for CV19. But without an app you can't put in any test result you may receive.

None of this works in the UK yet, as it needs to be 'turned on' by your health authority.

Also, stand by for a second peak of people claiming it's suddenly magically appeared on their phone, installed by 'the bad people'.....

Seems that it is an intrinsic part of iOS but not Android. Google requires an app to be downloaded.
See here:
https://www.google.com/covid19/exposurenotificatio...

ETA: the app on google play store found when searching for ‘exposure notification’ is the NHS app which is still in trial.

Edited by Scrump on Wednesday 2nd September 09:41

[pip t]

Well it's here....on iOS at least, the public version is now available. Not sure if the Android version is live yet.

https://twitter.com/ruskin147/status/1308881615087...



Get downloading. Or not.

[thetapeworm]

Android also live.

It's reporting I'm in a high risk area, I'm not, I'm just near some.

[aberdeeneuan]

Privacy notice still has the early adopter terms on it if you click them.

Apparently in a high risk area, which is currently true.

[Drawweight]

If you can’t download iOS 13.5 which you can’t if you have an iPhone 6 or earlier then you can’t download the app.

I wonder how many new phones Apple will sell on the back of that.

[Jamescrs]

Drawweight said:

If you can’t download iOS 13.5 which you can’t if you have an iPhone 6 or earlier then you can’t download the app.

I wonder how many new phones Apple will sell on the back of that.

I'm going back to a Nokia 3310

[21TonyK]

Drawweight said:

If you can’t download iOS 13.5 which you can’t if you have an iPhone 6 or earlier then you can’t download the app.

I wonder how many new phones Apple will sell on the back of that.

Or (like me) how many people might pick up a cheap £50 Android phone purely for the purpose of running the app?

Must be a very clever app to need a new iOS!

[Welshbeef]

Looking at France they launched an extremely basic app at the start of June. However by the end of the month only 12 had been logged on it. - this app in France was 3 months too late.

Scotland 4.5 months too late too

U.K. population are very against the govt knowing your movements which this clearly means is now available. The lefties were so against it and that kind of caused the stopping of the original app

[rover 623gsi]

https://faq.covid19.nhs.uk/article/KA-01183/en-us?...

Which venues in England should display the official NHS QR code poster?

If your business or venue falls into one of the sectors or categories that should provide a customer log, then you are also now expected to display an NHS QR code poster at your venue when the app launches nationally. This applies if you provide:

hospitality services, including pubs, bars, restaurants and cafés

tourism and leisure services, including hotels, museums, cinemas, zoos and theme parks

close contact services, including hairdressers, barbershops and tailors

facilities provided by Local Authorities, including town halls and civic centres for events, community centres, libraries and children’s centres

places of worship, including use for events and other community activities

If you have a venue outside of these categories that is visited by members of the public and has a space where people congregate, then we also encourage you to create a QR code poster for the entrance to that venue.

By supporting the official NHS QR code poster system, you'll be protecting your visitors and your business. You will help to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the impact of any second wave, and help normal life to resume more quickly.

no doubt that in the near future entry to these places will be dependent on scanning the qr code

Edited by rover 623gsi on Thursday 24th September 08:07

[grumbledoak]

rover 623gsi said:

...

By supporting the official NHS QR code poster system, you'll be protecting your visitors and your business. You will help to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the impact of any second wave, and help normal life to resume more quickly.

Tracked everywhere you go. Your "new normal" life.

[anonymous-user]

grumbledoak said:

rover 623gsi said:

...

By supporting the official NHS QR code poster system, you'll be protecting your visitors and your business. You will help to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the impact of any second wave, and help normal life to resume more quickly.

Tracked everywhere you go. Your "new normal" life.

You can always use some of the tinfoil to wrap your phone.

[768]

REALIST123 said:

grumbledoak said:

rover 623gsi said:

...

By supporting the official NHS QR code poster system, you'll be protecting your visitors and your business. You will help to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the impact of any second wave, and help normal life to resume more quickly.

Tracked everywhere you go. Your "new normal" life.

You can always use some of the tinfoil to wrap your phone.

Username doesn't check out.

[anonymous-user]

Drawweight said:

If you can’t download iOS 13.5 which you can’t if you have an iPhone 6 or earlier then you can’t download the app.

I wonder how many new phones Apple will sell on the back of that.

Do you really think many would buy a new phone for this?

I’m not saying they won’t but I certainly won’t be doing that.

From what I’ve read I can pretty much make sure I’m safe in terms of what this app will do.

[Welshbeef]

grumbledoak said:

rover 623gsi said:

...

By supporting the official NHS QR code poster system, you'll be protecting your visitors and your business. You will help to slow the spread of the virus, reduce the impact of any second wave, and help normal life to resume more quickly.

Tracked everywhere you go. Your "new normal" life.

And this response is partly why the original app had to be rejected and start again.

I’d wager those who reject its tracking you are also the ones banging the drum today 5 months late. As you were.