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NHS COVID-19 Contact Tracing App

NHS Covid-19 App

NHS COVID-19 App

The NHS COVID-19 App is the simplest way to help protect those around us from coronavirus. You can play your part and download the app now.

NHS COVID-19 App

 

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Designated venues have a system in place to request and record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff to help break the chains of transmission of coronavirus.

These venues will now display an official NHS QR poster, which should be displayed at the entrance, users of the app will be able to ‘check-in’ by using the app to scan the QR code.

How it Works

  • Alert - When you first download the app you will be asked to input the first half of your postcode. This allows you to see the level of risk associated with your area.
  • Check-in - The app allows you to record when you visit a venue by “checking-in” when you arrive, using the venue’s QR code.
  • Symptom checker - If you feel unwell you can use the symptom checker to see if symptoms could be related to coronavirus.
  • Test - If, based on information from the symptom checker, it appears you may have coronavirus, you will be taken to a website where you could book a test.
  • Trace - The app uses low level Bluetooth technology to keep a log of how long users are at close proximity to each other (which is measured based on the strength of the signal). If a person who presented symptoms comes back with a positive test – the app will ask their permission to notify other phones who have been identified as being at close proximity to theirs. Those users will then receive an anonymised exposure alert with advice on what to do next.
  • Isolate - If a user tests positive, they will be given advice on next steps and guidance on self-isolation timelines.

note: The app does not have access to phone contacts or any other personal information held on users’ phones. This includes names, contacts, email addresses or phone numbers. Please visit this link to find out more: www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-covid-19-app-privacy-information

For more information visit https://covid19.nhs.uk

Information for Care Professionals

For people who have installed the app- something to be aware of…. 

When you are on home visits for work and wearing the correct PPE (and correctly donning and doffing) you should pause the contact tracing on the app. This is because if health and social care workers are wearing PPE they are not classed as contacts but if you have not paused the contact tracing then if your citizen or their household member tested positive the app would alert you to be a contact. As you are not informed who the positive person was you cannot say “well I was wearing PPE so I am not a contact” as you would not know that it was from the home visit.

Other times to pause the contact tracing would be when you store your phone in a locker e.g. at the gym or swimming as someone could be near your locker even though you are not! Also if you were working behind a fixed Perspex screen and are fully protected from other people. 

To pause the contact tracing go into the app and at the bottom where it says contact tracing move the toggle over but remember to move back when finished home visit. 

This info has been taken from a NHS Covid 19 app support document.

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