Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 30 September 2020

BOSWORTH’S Member of Parliament, Dr. Luke Evans, has urged residents in Hinckley and Bosworth to download the newly-launched NHS Covid-19 app.

The app, named NHS Covid-19, has been launched across England and Wales following ‘rigorous’ testing and successful trials. It is available to download on phones and tablets.

This article may appear in Hinckley’s very own community magazine, The Local Rock – to read current editions, visit www.localrock.co.uk/editions.

The NHS Covid-19 app will alert users if they have been near someone who later tests positive for coronavirus and provide risk alerts based on the user’s postcode.

When visiting local venues, app users will be able to check in by scanning QR codes, as well as book tests if they have any coronavirus symptoms.

The app logs the time spent near other uses, and logs distance between users, so they will be alerted if somebody nearby has tested positive for the coronavirus.

The UK’s major mobile operators, Vodafone, Three, EE, O2, Sky and Virgin have confirmed that all in-app activity will not come out of the customer’s data allowance.

Businesses and venues are now required to display NHS Test and Trace QR Code posters with the NHS Covid-19 app to check in to venues.

So far, over 90,000 venues have downloaded QR codes. Venues in Wales are legally required to collect and keep a record of visitors and will still need to do so.

Dr. Luke Evans said: “Recent days have been a stark reminder of the threat that coronavirus still poses to our community. The new NHS Covid-19 app will be an important tool for helping to reduce the spread of the virus.

“I urge everyone in Hinckley and Bosworth who can to download this new app as soon as possible, to protect themselves and their loved ones.

“It is vital that all of us continue to follow those golden rules of Hands, Face, Space, and that people self-isolate when told to do so.”

Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “We are at a tipping point in our efforts to control the spread of this virus.

“With infection rates rising we must use every tool at our disposal to prevent transmission, including the latest technology.

“We have worked extensively with tech companies, international partners, and privacy and medical experts – and learned from the trials – to develop an app that is secure, simple to use and will help keep our country safe.

“The launch marks an important step forward in our fight against this invisible killer and I urge everyone who can to download and use the app to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Special thanks: Thanks to The Local Rock for permission to run this news story on here, which was edited by our Hinckley Reporter who also serves as their Junior Journalist. To read all five of their present and up to date editions virtually, visit www.localrock.co.uk/editions.