Thanks Hugh, This is my take and I know we already have a thread dealing with Corvid-19 so I thought it was worth discussing the new NHSX coronavirus contact tracking app.
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Professor Fraser said the concept of the app is “very simple”.
“If you are diagnosed with coronavirus, the people you’ve recently come into contact with will be messaged advising them to isolate,” he adds.
“If this mobile app is developed and deployed rapidly, and enough people opt-in to use such an approach, we can slow the spread of coronavirus and mitigate against devastating human, economic and social impacts.”
Dr David Bonsall researcher at Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Medicine explained current contact testing strategies are no longer viable.
“At the current stage of the epidemic, contact tracing can no longer be performed effectively by public health officials in the UK, and many countries across Europe, as coronavirus is spreading too rapidly,” he said.
“Our research of early data from other countries shows that patient histories are incomplete – we don’t know the details of the person we sat next to on the bus. We need an instantaneous and anonymous digital solution to confirm our person-to-person contact history.”
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https://www.digitalhealth.net/2020/0...-tracking-app/
Further developments reported by the
BBC
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24th April 2020 Apple and Google have tightened privacy measures in the contact-tracing scheme they are offering to health authorities and brought forward its launch.
The tech giants now intend to release a software building block to developers on Tuesday (28th April 2020), allowing them to build compatible apps. A fortnight ago, the firms said it would take until mid-May.
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I know that this forum has a lot of members who have a sound understanding of the technology being used and what all this could mean less tech savvy members such as myself.
- Will this lead to less privacy?
- Will I get told that I have possibly have been infected by hundreds of infectious people within a 50 meter radius or can the Bluetooth contact are be restricted to only report ...say 5/10 metres?
- Will having this app on my phone pose a security risk?
- Will having this app make people feel more eager to engage in social interaction because they assume that the people they are in contact with must not be infected?
I normally value my privacy and security so having my Bluetooth and GPS turned on permanently goes against the grain and on a practical note how will having these things active effect my battery.
.... and finally, will it work if we don't have mass testing, much faster results and can't ensure that people will pass on the information that they are infectious?