England and Wales’ Covid-19 app launched
Apple and Google’s automated contact-tracing technology will be used to tell people to self-isolate if their phone detects they were near someone later determined to have the virus.
It also includes:
- a venue check-in barcode scanner
- a postcode-based risk-level checker
- a symptoms-reporter tool
- the means to order a coronavirus test and receive its results
- a countdown timer to keep track of how long to stay in self-isolation
- a guide to the latest advice on local restrictions, financial support and other related information
How can you access the app?
The app is available for smartphones only – not tablets, smartwatches or other devices.
To get started, go to Android’s Google Play or Apple’s App Store and search for “NHS Covid-19”.
The handsets must have Android 6.0 (released in 2015) or iOS 13.5 (released in May 2020) and Bluetooth 4.0 or higher. That excludes the iPhone 6 and older versions of Apple’s handsets.
You must confirm that you are over 16 or older to use the app.
Further details and a short video are available on covid19.nhs.uk/
