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Just over half the population is likely to download the NHS app developed to track and trace coronavirus cases, a new survey suggests, amid concerns that delays in test results could hinder its effectiveness.
A narrow majority of 52% of people said in an Opinium survey to Observer They are likely to download the app, which alerts users if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus.
Academics leading the development team have warned that 60% of the population will need to download it for it to work properly. However, experts say it is starting to be very effective in reducing infections with an absorption above 50%, while much lower numbers can prevent intensive care units from being overwhelmed.
There remain concerns about the tracking app after it emerged that the government was already in talks with Apple and Google about using its tracking app as a backup, in case the software developed by NHSX, the innovation arm of the health service, not working enough.
Its in-house application is being tested on the Isle of Wight and has run into initial problems. Its design means that the battery power of an iPhone can be affected, while its effectiveness may also depend on a large number of Android phone users who use it.
The decision to develop an NHS application was made so that the data could be centrally stored and inform the political response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The app developed by Google and Apple limits governments’ access to data and is largely decentralized.
However, because some people still wait more than a week for their test results, there is also concern that such delays will weaken any tracking app. Professor Christophe Fraser, who advises the government on NHSX enforcement, said Sky news Last week: “A 72-hour delay really means you’re having very little impact on the epidemic. A 48-hour delay is pretty bad. You really need to get the information out in 24 hours.”
The government also has to hire an army of contact trackers in preparation for a “test, track and trace” strategy to fight the virus. Adecco Group, a global employment company, has been advertising contact-tracking jobs that can be carried out from home, at £ 8.72 per hour, the minimum wage for people over 24.
“These incredibly important web-based customer service roles come with full training, paid weekly, and will give you an opportunity to earn a regular income while supporting your community,” says the job advertisement. “To be considered, you will need the right to work in the UK and have access to your own laptop / desktop PC running on Windows 10 with Internet Explorer 11.
“You will need to have a clear English-speaking voice, as well as a reassuring way that you can deal with concerned and concerned audiences and have the ability to navigate a laptop / PC while talking to your caller.”
