Global Pandemic App Watch (GPAW)

United Kingdom

NHS COVID-19 App

History and Context of NHS COVID-19 App

In early May 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) National Health Service (NHS) announced that their centralized NHS Covid-19 App would be trialed in the Isle of Wight. They intended to use these tests to make adjustments to the app before launching it across the UK. This version of the app has since been discontinued, and a new version has been launched on the GAEN API. Along with its Bluetooth contact tracing functions, the NHS Covid-19 App also asked users how they are feeling, whether they have a high temperature, and if they had a persistent cough. Based on the answers to these questions, the app would suggest measures to protect the community like self-isolating. Additionally, when users input their symptoms, Bluetooth contacts from the previous 28 days may have been notified based on their risk score determined by the apps risk algorithm. While personal information was not collected through the app, it was requested when a user reported symptoms. Upon downloading the app, users were required to input the first half of the postcode in order for the NHS to track the overall spread of the virus in the community. After public concerns over privacy, and incompatibility with older phone models, the NHS decided not to roll out their app on May 28, 2020 and in late September 2020, the NHSX App launched using the GAEN API. In addition to the standard GAEN features, the new app also allows users to scan QR Codes to log when they visit specific establishments. An official privacy notice and data protection impact assessment have been released by the Department of Health & Social Care. The NHSX App is only avaliable in England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland each have apps of their own. All three apps are now interoperable. Jersey also recently announced their intention to create an app on the GAEN API that will eventually be interoperable with the NHS Covid-19 App.

App-Specific Legislation

There is no known app-specific legislation at this time.

Stats and Facts

Downloads:

20000000

Uptake (% of population):

29.4 (UK); 34.3 (England & Wales)

Developers:

Zuhlke Engineering

Technology:

QR Code + Bluetooth

Architecture:

Decentralized

Voluntariness:

Voluntary

Alerts or Notifications Sent:

No Data

Implementation and Testing:

Implemented

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Disclaimer

The information available has been gathered from news reports,  publicly available documents, and scholarly literature. Its accuracy is therefore subject to change. The information contained on this page is not globally comprehensive as the research team is constrained by language and geographical barriers.  Please use this information responsibly and contact us with any questions.

COVID-19 Update in United Kingdom

Total Cases: 2432888
New Cases: 50023 per Day
Total Deaths: 72548
New Deaths: 981 per Day
Last Updated: December 31, 2020