The NHS Covid-19 app is now live in England & Wales

[Redolent]

For iPhones at least, not sure about Android yet.

My postcode is ‘medium risk’ apparently...

Not sure if this has been mentioned already but for those asking about when the app will notify you of a positive contact the BBC had this graphic which is quite informative

I have a Huawei and it works. My Bluetooth is always on so I won't notice a drain in the battery (I hope).

Surely you don't need to download the app for the qr code in restaurants etc, you can just use your phone camera like we have been doing all summer

The app QR code will not work just with a camera, it has to be the app, no idea why, but that's how they built it.

sirfredfredgeorge How has it worked so far then? I'm confused. If I've been in a restaurant ive scanned the qr code and filled in my details, basically name and phone number. I've not downloaded any app. Can't people carry on doing that if they don't have the app?

Yes they could - but the advantage (supposed) of the app is that you can remain anonymous in the tracing and it's part of the same NHS track and trace system so there's better data.

But the existing QR codes with your phone, would be the same as just putting your name on a piece of paper. Probably a better system for most, as anonymity is not actually useful here as it's likely to cause more anxiety than benefit, as 'cos you can't sign out (you sign out at midnight or when you sign in somewhere else) the NHS system won't actually know when you were really there, so a café you bought a takeaway coffee from three hours before the superspreader was identified as being there would alert people unnecessarily.

Ah thank you, I get it now. Still undecided on the app and as I don't actually eat or drink out that often will probably hold off for now.

When I have used the QR code and app at Costa it has asked me to estimate how much time I will be there. Does anyone know if this is doing anything like that?

it has asked me to estimate how much time I will be there
I hate this reminds me of car park systems where they have your credit card number and still ask how many hours you will be there for.

Maybe it is me but until I have been somewhere a while I don't know how long i will want to stay for.

What’s the age for having to use the app, scouts have said over 16s must use it for meetings, football have said over 18s.

Is there an age where it becomes a requirement?

@sirfredfredgeorge

Yes they could - but the advantage (supposed) of the app is that you can remain anonymous in the tracing and it's part of the same NHS track and trace system so there's better data.

But the existing QR codes with your phone, would be the same as just putting your name on a piece of paper. Probably a better system for most, as anonymity is not actually useful here as it's likely to cause more anxiety than benefit, as 'cos you can't sign out (you sign out at midnight or when you sign in somewhere else) the NHS system won't actually know when you were really there, so a café you bought a takeaway coffee from three hours before the superspreader was identified as being there would alert people unnecessarily.

@sirfredfredgeorge I think you've misunderstood how the app works, the second paragraph isn't quite right.

The check-in system is separate from exposure detection. It's designed not to need check-out times, that was a deliberate design decision.

You won't be notified of the 'superspreader' because your phone never made the bluetooth connection with the confirmed case, your phone and person were not there at the same time.

This is how the exposure data remains anonymous, the data collected is not that you made contact at a time and place with X person. It is simply that you spent a significant period of time with a bluetooth connection, that later went on to be positive in a 48 hour window (I believe that is the time window).

The exposure system is separate - the point of checking in is for people who were identified as being there at a particular time, who did not have the app installed, and enables you to be anonymously notified from that information. The QR code data enables you to be notified purely on "was at location X during a high risk episode of infection", it is as you say entirely distinct from the bluetooth system, but it is specifically the reason for the QR check in.

I was only explaining the non-bluetooth use cases, and they're only relevant where the identified spreaders did not have the app.

@AlecTrevelyan006

I have no issue about privacy with the phone per se, it's the proven and inevitable scope creep that will occur.

Here is an app, you can download if you wish -> you must download this app -> if you don't download this app to a phone that can support it, you will be fined -> without the covipass app, you cannot leave you home.

ad infinitum

I think you're spot on with this post. Over time people will gradually be excluded if they don't use the app.

Just had chemist owner on channel 4 news bemoaning fact he said had QR poster up for weeks and nobody has used it. Thought you only needed to if you were planning to stay somewhere for more 15min so pub restaurant hairdresser? Not running into chemist to pick up a bottle of capol?

Can I just say, my iPhone 6 has been compatible with every other app I've tried to download in the last year.

Just not this potentially life-saving (for others) one....
🤔

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tory-esther-mcvey-suggests-poor-14210844

Tory Esther McVey says poor families 'prioritise new phones over food

lol I fucking bet shes changed her mind now.

But as poorer ppl have been told they must not prioritize phones surely they are only doing as advised if they dont/are unable to download this app.

@Augustbreeze my iphone 6 has downloaded it fine. What iOS are you running?

Oh that's strange.12.8.4 iirc, others have quoted it upthread.....

MsMartini is yours an iphone 6S? The 6S seems to download it, the 6 doesn't.

Yes, think it is. You need iOS 13.5 and it looks like the 6 may not...
faq.covid19.nhs.uk/article/KA-01167/en-us