The contact-tracing app?

[cee-dee]

What's the point of it?

If you've not got any symptoms, you're told to stay off it?

If you have symptoms you shouldn't be out anyway?

[upthecreekyetagain]

Where have you got the idea that if you have no symptoms then you shouldn't use the app?

the trial taking place on the IOW is encouraging everyone to load the app.

[cee-dee]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-52558894

Scroll down and it says:-

Ben South, a 999 call handler, was among a group of NHS workers observed by the media and Cabinet Office staff as he installed the app moments after it went live to key workers.

He said: "Initially there's a screen to ask if you have any symptoms and if you don't, it will advise you to stay off the app and to come back when you do display any symptoms.

[cee-dee]

And another thing......... it doesn't work on older phones and even for some that are able to download it, it comes up with a message to re-launch it, after doing that it does it again.... and again...... and it also appears to drain the battery for those who have successfully downloaded it.

[upthecreekyetagain]

That bit is correct - there is no need to open the app if you don't have any symptoms- the app is effectively two apps in one.

The first part is the contact tracing - keeping a record of other people you have come close to and where that occurred.

The second part is used if you show symptoms - this is reported via the app - all those who you have "put at risk" will then be notified by the app on their phone.

The idea behind this is to try and track and trace those with the virus - testing those at risk and at the same time reducing the risk of the virus being spread even further.

[upthecreekyetagain]

I imagine there will be a greater drain on the battery because the app is constantly using Bluetooth to search for nearby phones also using the app - a minor penalty surely if the app can save lives?

Of course the app won't work with all phones but if half the population manage to use it then it should certainly help to keep infection spread lower.

[cee-dee]

Now it turns out that it's flawed and doesn't take account of up to ten other important symptoms and concentrates on just two. It's therefore of little use? There's other contact tracing apps that do a better job.

[fallen-archie]

Possibly, there will be problems, but then how else would we be able to learn if there weren’t. I will welcome any measure which can aid our efforts to get out of this lockdown! If there are indeed apps that do a better job, please name them so that we can consider there usage.