New software won’t work on old iphones
THE new NHS test and trace app has already been branded a flop – because it does not work on older iphones.
Ministers urged everybody to download the long- delayed Covid- tracking service after it was launched yesterday.
But many who tried received an “error” message saying users must have IOS 13.5 or later for it to work.
The operating system will not function on the iphone 6 or older models, meaning millions cannot download it.
Frustrated users expressed their dismay on social media, claiming it was a “fall at the first hurdle”.
It also emerged the app could wrongly tell people to self- isolate.
False
The app uses Bluetooth signals to determine whether someone has been within two metres of an infectious person for 15 minutes.
But this signal can be interfered with by other devices that use Bluetooth and generate a “false positive”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock defended the app and insisted: “No, nobody who gets an alert saying they should self- isolate will have not been in close contact with someone else who has the app.”
Mr Hancock added: “The more people who download this app, the more effective it will be.”
The Government said that as of 9am yesterday there were 6,634 more labconfirmed UK Covid cases, taking the overall total to 416,363.
A further 40 people have died within 28 days of testing positive, taking the total number of UK deaths to 41,902.
Separate figures published by the UK’S statistics agencies show there have been 57,600 deaths registered in the UK where Covid- 19 was mentioned on the death certificate.