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People across England and Wales are being urged to download the NHS COVID-19 app to help control the spread of coronavirus and protect themselves and their loved ones as case numbers rise.
To show their support, trusted voices from the community such as Pastor Marjorie Esomowei, Dr Seun Bakareand CEO Alistair Soyode of BEN TV have come together in a new film with community influencers, to encourage the community to download the new NHS COVID-19 App, which is now available to download from the Google and Apple App stores. The app has launched this week and, after positive trials and rigorous testing, is an important new tool to work alongside traditional contact tracing to help reduce the spread of the virus.
In the film https://youtu.be/rwrb0I0Wy0g community voices outline the reasons why they’ve downloaded the app – whether it is to protect loved ones, to know what to do if you develop symptoms or to know if you live in a high-risk area. This support echoes a national drive which aims to raise awareness that downloading the app will help control the spread of the virus and protect themselves and their loved ones as case numbers rise.
It will be available to those aged 16 and over in multiple languages. It forms a central part of the NHS Test and Trace service in England and the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect programme – identifying contacts of those who have tested positive for coronavirus.
The UK’s major mobile network operators, including Vodafone, Three, EE and O2, Sky and Virgin, have also confirmed that all in-app activity will not come out of customers’ data allowance.
The contact tracing element of the app works by using low-energy Bluetooth to log the amount of time you spend near other app users, and the distance between you, so it can alert you if someone you have been close to later tests positive for COVID-19 – even if you don’t know each other.
The app will advise you to self-isolate if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case. It will also enable you to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get your test results.
The app has been designed with user privacy in mind, so it tracks the virus not people, and uses the latest in data security technology to protect privacy. The system generates a random ID for an individual’s device, which can be exchanged between devices via Bluetooth (not GPS). These unique random IDs regenerate frequently to add an extra layer of security and preserve anonymity.
The app does not hold personal information such as your name, address or date of birth, and only requires the first half of your postcode to ensure local outbreaks can be managed. No personal data is shared with the government or the NHS.
Download the NHS COVID-19 App today, it’s the simplest way to help protect those we love. Available now in both the Google and Apple stores.
View the app explainer video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um0qeXj1hnw&
View the app privacy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCH__yEHa4s& here
For more information on the NHS COVID-19 app, visit https://covid19.nhs.uk/
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