The NHS COVID-19 app that is used in England and Wales is having issued on some Android phones. Users of the app reported that they are stuck on the loading page.
NHS COVID-19 app error
The users expressed their concern on social media that the error on the app could mean that contact data was not being uploaded and that users would not get exposure notifications. Some of the experts speculated that it was a wider issue that is specifically affecting other Android apps.
The Department of Health is now looking into the matter with Google, and they have not released an official statement about the issue yet.
Also Read: How NHS COVID-19 App Works: Find Out How To Download, Activate, and Explore The Features
A spokesperson for the Department of Health told the BBC that they know the issue of the app and how it is affecting Android users. The Department of Health are currently working with Google to investigate the matters immediately and the resolve the issue as soon as possible.
In November 2020, the same issue happened and the app stopped working for numerous iPhone users, but Apple stated that it did not think that the issue was its fault. This is because apps in other areas is not affected.
The NHS then instructed the users to reset their iPhone location and their privacy settings. Users were also instructed to make sure that they had the most up-to-date version of its operating system.
The NHS in England and Wales have their own COVID-19 contact tracing app and they have been downloaded for more than 20 million times as of December 2, 2020. Meanwhile, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their separate apps.
How the NHS COVID-19 app works
The contact tracing app is Bluetooth-based. The app aims to notify those who have been near people who has tested positive for coronavirus. It also allows you to check your symptoms, book a test and check-in to places that they visit by using a QR code system.
Launched on September 24, 2020, the app can be downloaded through Google Play an the App Store. So how does the app work and how does it collect data?
According to Wired, contact tracing is a known method for controlling the transmission of the virus. It is used not just with COVID-19 but also other diseases like STDs, including HIV. The process involves a person who is infected recounting all of their activities so that health care workers can trace the people who might have been exposed.
In England, if you tested positive for the coronavirus, you will be contacted by the NHS test and Trace service, this will be done through text message, phone or email.
When contacted by text or email, people are then sent a link to the NHS Test and Trace website to enter their details and their recent contacts.
These specific details can be shared over the phone. The contact traces will then ask for the names, email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses of those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 so they, too, can get tested.
Related Article: NHS COVID-19 App May 'Wrongly' Tell People to Self-Isolate Over Design Issue
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Written by Sieeka Khan
