At least one million contact tracers already downloaded the United Kingdom's official COVID-19 app, the National Health Service (NHS) tracing app. Unfortunately, the app already faces a problem in its early roll-out. Reports said some NHS app users complain app doesn't work on iPhone 6 or older iPhone models. Worse, it could falsely say you've recently interacted with COVID positive area, forcing you to self-isolate.
NHS COVID-19 App not working?
In this photo illustration the C-19 Covid Symptom Study app is seen on a screen on August 13, 2020 in London, England. The NHS has used several mobile applications during the course of the pandemic to help patients assess and report their symptoms. This week, they have started trialling the "NHS Covid-19" contact-tracing app, after a series of delays in the development process.
So far, the NHS COVID-19 tracing app of the British government is on a successful roll-out. Within the first day of app release, England and Wales already reached more than a million downloads.
Though it's good news, the app faces more problems as most early downloaders complain about the software itself. Mashable reported app cannot access older iPhone models, starting from iPhone 6.
This tends to become an issue to low-income citizens, which has older versions of smartphones. It will also force them to uninstall the app if they see the app not working or crashing their phones.
NHS has not yet commented on the prior iOS issue. But it says on the app that it only works on handsets having Android version Marshmallow 6.0 (released in 2015) or iOS 13.5 (released in May 2020) as well as Bluetooth 4.0 or a more recent version.
UK health secretary Matt Hancock even had a controversial interview regarding the issue, in which he asks people to buy a new phone if issue cannot be fixed.
"Of course there are technical requirements, in the same way that if you don't have a phone obviously you can't download it, but the vast majority of people have got the latest version of the Apple software." He added, "The best thing that they could do if they want to get the app, of course, is to upgrade."
NHS app made a wrong indication?
A screenshot of the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app which is launching across England and Wales today on September 24, 2020 in Newcastle Under Lyme, United Kingdom.
Another issue that the NHS is facing today reports about the app's design problem. This could result in false claims, such as forcing unnecessary users of self-isolation.
As explained via The Independent UK, the app can record your location through scanning QR codes, which may confuse the app.
For example, if someone tests positive with COVID-19 that has the same location as you, it will instantly tell you to self-isolate, even you're not with him on the same day or same time. Just the same location.
Worse, if the person doesn't follow the suggested isolation tips, the user could be fined up to $12,000.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Jamie Pancho
