Tourists heading to the Isle of Wight will once again be able to download and use the NHS Test and Trace app following a further extension of the trial.
The app was first made available to visitors over the Bank Holiday Weekend resulting in more than 32,000 flyers containing 8-digit unique codes being handed-out at mainland terminals and onboard ferries.
The codes give tourists access to the NHS QR ‘check-in’ feature at venues, such as pubs and restaurants, which are displaying the NHS QR poster.
From tomorrow (Saturday) until 10th September, app ambassadors will continue to work with ferry companies Wightlink, Red Funnel and Hovertravel to distribute the leaflets while adhering to the government’s strict social distancing guidelines and wearing face masks and gloves.
Council leader Dave Stewart said:
“I understand last weekend was a huge success with many positive comments of support from people visiting the Island and I am very happy to support this further extension of the app test.
“It is important that visitors take part in the Island initiative to reduce the spread of Covid-19 by improving contact tracing.”
It’s being assumed by many that tourists are being encouraged to download the app due to a low take-up amongst Islanders, who were already disheartened by the performance of the first app. The compatibility of the new app with Android and Apple phones has also been talked about on social media.
Allowing visitor till 10th september download the app.
Why?
Is it because very few people on the island downloaded it?
Also, they have not published the numbers that have downloaded it, why?
We have had two lots of relatives visit the island since bank holiday began, one lot weren’t even approached, the other were just handed a leaflet.
We travelled on Yarmouth ferry Wednesday and Thursday last week and saw nobody giving anything out. No figures given for downloads as nobody doing it after the fiasco of the last one. I don’t know anyone who’s bothering and this is the second time I’ve tried commenting and it’s been removed so hopefully this will post! No freedom of speech on here. The app is a waste of time as nobody follows the guidelines anymore and people will not isolate if contacted if they won’t get paid unfortunately. Major flaws in this system.
And guess what smithy, less people are dying! So stop believing the fear mongering!
“Worldbeating” failure.
I tried several times unsuccessfully to input my personal number. The problem seems to be something to do with the hyphen, but whether I input one or allowed it to be added automatically, I could not connect to the app.
Yet again. most people i know either have a phone that it wont download to or run, or have just a plain phone that will only send text messages or call people.
SO more people i know haven’t got this so called world breaking app mark 2 than do have it.
Still no published number of people that have actually downloaded it.
World beating further bollocks
Where are my comments from yesterday? Why are they not approved. Freedom of speech?