app – Thought grazing

I will add more detail later, but just wanted to create this for the meeting later today.

The long-awaited app is launched today (24th September).

It’s a really positive step forward I feel, even though there’s the inevitable doom and gloom merchants already slating it.

What is really a sad state of affairs (and here I stray into political waters – dangerous, I know) is that the Track and Trace (outside Wales, where we have tried to do things much more locally and involved local Public Health experts from an early stage much more) is that it does appear to be putting the cart before the horse. The app should have been in place before they allowed the pubs/hospitality outlets to be opened. It should have been made mandatory. You shouldn’t have been able to enter unless you scanned yourself in (or failing that supplied a verifiable name and address. Mini-rant over!

So it’s available on iOS devices from the iPhone 6s onwards, and Android devices from 2017 (Android 6) onwards. You download it from the appropriate app store.

This is how it works …

I’ll get back on to this following the meeting. Please post Comments, or ask Questions below, or raise a Topic in the Covid-19 Forum.

How does it work? This article from Wired UK provides a comprehensive explanation.

The BBC’s explanation of how it works (as an infographic).

Screenshots from installing the app on my iPhone 6s

The app is highlighted on the App store (at least for Apple) today …

… download and install, and start the app …

You will be asked a couple of questions, including an age enquiry …

… and then a Privacy section, which is actually very good and worth reading. The developers have done all they can to make you aware of what the app does, and how it protects your privacy.

So if you click on the Privacy link you will be taken to the UK Government website that gives you more information, after first informing you that it uses cookies …

You might like to click through to the Welsh pages to find out more about Local restrictions …

… then you need to supply the first part of your postcode. The developers have acknowledged there’s a weakness in the app currently in that if you move your location, you can’t change it in the app. They are working on a workaround/fix/upgrade. This would apply if you were to go on holiday somewhere else, or if you were a student moving away from your home.