THE NHS coronavirus app which alerts people who may be at risk of infection through contact tracing has launched nationally, and teams will be in Bournemouth on Saturday to answer any questions.

Launched after positive trials in the London Borough of Newham, on the Isle of Wight and with NHS volunteer responders, the app alerts people who may be at risk of coronavirus through contact tracing, asking them to isolate before they potentially pass the virus on to others.

To support the launch, NHS street teams will in the Square from 9am until 5pm on Saturday November 26, to help explain and demonstrate the app, and to encourage the public to download.

In addition to offering support to individuals, the dedicated street teams will be on hand to provide business support to local firms through advice and help printing the new QR code posters that are now legally mandated.

The app will alert users to the level of coronavirus in their area, enable people to check-in at venues to see if they have recently visited somewhere with a coronavirus infection, allows people to check if they have symptoms, helps them book a test and advises them to self-isolate.

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.

“There is no silver bullet when it comes to stopping the spread of coronavirus, but today’s 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.”

Dido Harding, executive chair of the NHS Test and Trace Programme, added:

“We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to engage with NHS Test and Trace. The NHS Covid-19 app enables the majority of people with a smartphone to find out if they are at risk of having caught the virus and need to self-isolate, order a test if they have symptoms, and access the right guidance and advice.

“The features of this app, including QR code check-in at venues, work alongside our traditional contact tracing service and will help us to reach more people quickly in their communities to prevent further spread of the virus.

“This is a welcome step in protecting those around us.”

The app does not hold personal information such as your name, address or date of birth, and only requires the first half of your postcode to ensure local outbreaks can be managed.