The NHS contact tracing app is going into testing this week on the Isle of Wight before being rolled-out later in the month.
Isle of Wight will be the first place the new contact tracing app will be used to alert users should they have come into contact with someone who later develops COVID-19 symptoms.
Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary said at least half the population must use the app if it is to work.
The Government recently announced the tracing app will be part of its plans when lockdown measures could be eased. Epidemiologists advising the NHS highlight there would need to be 60% or more using the app for it to prove effective.
In a session last week with MPs on the Commons science and technology committee, Matthew Gould, CEO, NHSX said if the app performed well, it will be ready when the country is looking to ease lockdown measures.
Gould was questioned extensively on how the data might be used during and after the pandemic and on privacy, Gould re-iterated that all data will only be used for NHS care and research. For research users would have to opt-in.
He also confirmed the commitment to publish the risk model so its transparent, Gould commented “We will open source the software and publish the privacy model. The whole model exists on people having randomised/anonymised IDs. I do believe what we have done is respectful of privacy.”
The unit has also been cooperating closely with a range of other countries, sharing code and technical solutions.
In Australia its contact tracing app, COVIDsafe has at time of writing seen 3.5 million use the app.
Elsewhere a similar app is being used in India where over 75 million have downloaded the app, however a fraction of the population.
