UK Coronavirus Testing App Could be Rolled Out in Two-Three Weeks

LONDON – The UK could start rolling out its coronavirus tracking app in less than a month. Matthew Gould, the head of the NHSX – the health service’s digital transformation unit, unveiled progress to UK lawmakers on Tuesday (via Reuters).

Coronavirus application “Ready for wider deployment in two to three weeks”.

A trial in a smaller area could begin “within two weeks,” Gould told the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. In addition, he stated that “depending on his testing performance and the smaller surface area we expect, I expect it to be technically ready for wider deployment within two to three weeks.”

Germany approves Apple / Google Coronavirus contact approach

On Monday, it was revealed that the UK is moving away from a decentralized model for coronavirus applications. However, this is not the approach advocated by Apple and Google. Apple is said to have worked with NHSX for several weeks and that should not change. The decentralized approach is more energy efficient and protects user privacy better – a fundamental principle of Apple. An API is expected in the coming days that individual states can use to build contact tracking apps.