Which company designed the NHS COVID-19 app to protect the privacy and identity of the users?

Which company designed the NHS COVID-19 app to protect the privacy and identity of the users?

This system is designed by Apple and Google to protect the privacy and identity of app users, making their use of the app anonymous.

Does the NHS COVID-19 app protect my privacy?

The system gives a high level of privacy protection, as the app does not collect or transfer any information that tells us who or where you are. This also means it cannot tell the NHS, people and organisations who have contributed to the development of the app, or any other app user, who or where you are.

Which organisations process personal data from NHS COVID-19 app?

The ones that will be processing personal data are:

•Amazon Web Services (AWS) which hosts the central system (cloud server) that supports the app
•The Health Informatics Service (THIS), which is hosted by the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust. THIS provides the ‘NPEx’ system which provides test results to the app (using the test code unique to the app)
These organisations can only work under instruction from DHSC and cannot use information they process for any other purposes

Who provides the digital contact-tracing technology used in the NHS COVID-19 app?

The digital contact-tracing technology used in the NHS COVID-19 app is provided by Apple and Google. This technology is known as the ‘Google Apple Exposure Notification system’ (or ‘GAEN’). GAEN, operating systems and data available from this system are constantly being refined.

These updates change the data that can be collected. They also make additional data items available which can help understand and manage public health.

GAEN can provide measurements around the interactions of users. For example, when you update your status in the app with a positive COVID-19 test result (and share your diagnosis keys), GAEN helps the app generate data to understand the level of risk of infection for other app users.

How does the NHS COVID-19 app protect users' anonymity while tracking the cases?

The app uses complex cryptography to protect you and other app users' anonymity while enabling diagnosis keys to be matched with a relevant broadcast key when relevant. Where there are matches, you will get an alert that you've been in contact with someone who tested positive.

How does the National Health Service (NHS) app protect user's privacy?

The technique used to provide app users with their correct result also ensure that the identity of the user is protected. When the app recommends a test for users it requests three separate tokens. These are generated by services outside of the app and are not recorded in the app. They are unique and anonymous and cannot be derived from each other or any other information.

These three tokens allow the correct information to be returned to the correct user whilst maintaining their privacy and ensuring that data cannot be linked. We dealt the tokens promptly once we’ve updated the relevant app.

How does the National Health Service (NHS) app prevent re-identification?

Only those with access to the app will have details of the venues checked into. No details about which venues a user has checked into is included in the analytical data set or provided to the use.

How does the NHS COVID-19 app contact tracing work?

When you download the app to your phone, a code will be generated which will identify the app’s existence on your device.

This code changes every day (a ‘daily code’), so that it cannot be associated with you or your phone.

Your app produces another randomly generated code every 15 minutes (known as ‘the broadcast code’). The broadcast code is collected by the app installed on other users’ phones when you come into close contact with them and is held there for 14 days.

How does the NHS COVID-19 app use its collected information?

• assess if the risk algorithm used is working
• understand if the risk score (calculated from interactions) accurately reflects the risk of COVID-19
• make sure the risk threshold is working as intended and set at an appropriate level
• benefit public health by learning and improving the app and services performance and advice

Can I be traced via the NHS COVID-19 app?

The system gives a high level of privacy protection, as the app does not collect or transfer any information that tells us who or where you are. This also means it cannot tell the NHS, people and organisations who have contributed to the development of the app, or any other app user, who or where you are.

Does the COVID-19 app collect personal data?

• The app holds personal data, however, we do not collect personal data. For example, your app will hold details of the venues you have visited but this is not shared with us

Does the NHS COVID-19 app gather analytical data?

Each 6-hour period, the app collects a summary count of key information. This is called the analytical data set and helps us monitor the use, performance and information about the app and its use. The data is prepared and will be sent to central systems where it used for assurance of the app, technical checks and the public health functions. It does not include the data held on your app about specific venues or your close contacts.

Does the NHS COVID-19 app delete my data if I delete the app?

If you choose to delete the app, you will not receive any notifications (alerts) from the app about coronavirus (COVID-19) and the data stored by the app on your phone will be deleted. If you decide to install the app again, you will need to provide the requested information again.

Does the NHS COVID-19 app store my IP address?

Your IP address (a unique identifier for your phone when you use the internet) is automatically shared with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) when you share data through the App. DHSC does not use your IP address however and deletes it as soon as it is received. Like every other app, our app uses the internet to work which requires the use of the IP address.

The application is reviewed and tested to make sure that there never exists functionality that collects, logs, retransmits or stores the IP addresses received within HTTP headers. This minimises the possibility of recombining IP address and payload data.

Can I delete the COVID-19 app?

Right to be forgotten. You can choose to delete the app and the data it contains.

How often does the National Health Service (NHS) app update data?

The app is updated by the central systems (product environment), on average, every 2 hours. The central system provides all app users with three key sets of data. Every app user receives the same information, called reference material, which the app uses to determine if you need to receive an alert or advice. These are:

• the list of Diagnosis Keys from app users who have tested positive. This functionality keeps the identity of app users anonymous to other app users
• the list of all postcode districts and their current risk level
• the list of venues that could pose a risk, as determined by Health Protection Teams and the Joint Biosecurity Centre (JBC)

How does Evushield for COVID-19 work?

Developed by AstraZeneca, Evusheld is a combination of two long-acting antibodies that works by binding to the spike protein on the outside of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the virus that causes COVID-19. This in turn prevents the virus from attaching to and entering human cells.

Can personal data collected for NHS Test and Trace be used for other purposes?

Personal data that is collected for NHS Test and Trace, which you would not collect in your usual course of business, must be used only to share with NHS Test and Trace.

It must not be used for other purposes, including marketing, profiling, analysis or other purposes unrelated to contact tracing, or you will be in breach of GDPR. You should make your staff aware of what they should and shouldn't do with customer information.

What are public health and social measures (PHSMs)?

Public health and social measures (PHSMs) are measures or actions by individuals, institutions, communities, local and national governments and international bodies to slow or stop the spread of an infectious disease, such as COVID-19.

Can you still get Covid after vaccine?

Like all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, so you should continue to take recommended precautions to avoid infection. Some people may still get COVID-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.

How long after having COVID-19 can I get the spring booster vaccine?

If you are unwell, wait until you have recovered to have your vaccine. If you have had confirmed COVID-19 you should ideally wait 4 weeks before having your spring booster.

How long do I have to wait for my booster after having COVID-19?

If you have a COVID-19 positive result, when can you have a booster? You will still need the booster but you should wait at least 4 weeks from your COVID-19 infection.

Who can get a spring booster for the coronavirus disease?

People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those with weakened immune systems will be offered a spring booster of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. Appointments will be available from the National Booking Service shortly.

Who is eligible for the COVID-19 spring booster vaccine in the UK?

Protection from the vaccine may be lower and may decline more quickly in these people. For this reason people aged 75 years and over, those in care homes and those aged 12 years and over with a weakened immune system are being offered the spring booster.

Can you catch COVID-19 after 2 doses of vaccines?

Although 2 doses of vaccine will greatly reduce your own risk of becoming unwell with COVID-19, it is still possible to contract the virus and pass it to others.

ncG1vNJzZmiZnKG8tsDFqKatmpGhuW%2BvzmespGeWlr5ww8eimqFlk6S6sa3NsmSdnaOetK%2Bxw2aroZ1do7W0ecKoraKcXWaGbq3PqWStp12lv7DAxJyrZqyYmnqxvsivmJyxXZa7pXnInZynrJmpxm67xWaroZ1dqsCmvtI%3D