Public Health Dorset urge locals to use NHS COVID-19 app

Public Health Dorset are urging locals to download the NHS' COVID-19 app and help them keep track of the disease's spread in the county.

They say it'll help them spot the spread of Coronavirus is specific parts of the county very quickly.

The app runs in the background on your phone and uses bluetooth to track who you've been in close contact with. If any of those people test positive, the app will notify you.

Sam Crowe, director of Public Health for Dorset said:

"Make sure you use that to check in with any venues like bars and restaurants you may be visiting. That's the way we can receive the information really quickly if there's been a problem there.

"We can make sure we're taking prompt action to follow up on all the contacts and make sure that we limit the spread."

The app launched on Thursday 24 September after positive trials and rigorous testing and is an important new tool to work alongside traditional contact tracing to help reduce the spread of the virus. It is available to those aged 16 and over in multiple languages.

The contact tracing element of the app works by using low-energy Bluetooth to log the amount of time you spend near other app users, and the distance between you, so it can alert you if someone you have been close to later tests positive for COVID-19 – even if you don’t know each other.

The app will advise you to self-isolate if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case. It will also enable you to check symptoms, book a free test if needed and get your test results.

It has been downloaded over 10 million times since launching last week.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:

"The enthusiastic response of over 10m people downloading the app in just three days has been absolutely fantastic.

"This is a strong start but we want even more people and businesses getting behind the app because the more of us who download it the more effective it will be.

If you haven’t downloaded it yet I recommend you join the growing numbers who have, to protect yourself and your loved ones."

You can download the app via the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Cases in Dorset

Dorset has been seeing rising numbers, with a more rapid increase in Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole.

Last week there were 18 new cases recorded in the Dorset Council area, compared with 17 the week before.