How the NHS contact tracing app works...
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DOWNLOAD APP
The NHS Covid-19 app is downloaded from Apple or Google app stores and then users enable it to access Bluetooth features on their smartphone.
KEEP THE PHONE WITH YOU
The app will run in the background of the phone, periodically waking up when it senses another phone with the app coming into range. It will then use Bluetooth to measure how far away the other person is every 15 seconds. The app will log the other phone for 28 days if the two devices came into close contact.
DATA ANALYSED
The answers will then be analysed by the NHS’s artificial intelligence (AI) programme. If the AI decides the symptoms meet a threshold for Covid-19, that person should self-isolate for 14 days.
SUFFERER IS TESTED
When a user reports symptoms that are suspected to be Covid-19, they will be directed to where they can arrange an NHS viral swab test.
PROVIDE POSTCODE
When setting up the app, users will be asked to enter the first half of their postcode. This is so the NHS can use the data to see where hotspots of infections are breaking out. Users are not asked for any more details until they want to report symptoms.
REPORT SYMPTOMS
If a user develops flu-like symptoms, they report these via the app. They will be asked a series of clinical questions. This will be similar to other NHS reporting functions, such as the 111 service.
ALERT SENT TO PREVIOUS CONTACTS
The AI will then analyse contacts the symptomatic person has logged in the app to decide the potential risk of infection for each. People deemed to have had ‘high risk’ contact with someone reporting Covid-19 symptoms will then be sent an alert advising that they selfisolate for 14 days.
TEST RESULTS
If the test is positive selfisolation advice remains in place for all alerted. A PHE contacttracing team will follow up with the tested user and find other people they may have infected. If the test comes back negative, the app will send out an alert to the contacted people telling them that they can stop selfisolating.