Promote the COVID Symptom Study App

Encourage residents to download the Covid Symptom Study app that has been operational for weeks now and which was created by Kings College London, Guys and St Thomas Hospitals and Zoe (a health science company). This has been providing important information to NHS and the government for weeks now and is the biggest study being done. It isn’t politically affiliated and tracks symptoms, not people. It is likely to hold more useful data than any other app that is in development as it began earlier in Scotland’s virus ‘journey’. More data from across Scotland will give the Scottish government much better information on which to base decisions. They’ll be able to see which locations have almost certainly had the virus but with no testing yet done, and areas where the virus does not appear to have reached.

Why the contribution is important

Government should be basing their decision on the best possible research. This research should also be available to the public, and this app does that through a weekly webinar. It is run by world-renowned medical professionals who are working with the global response and are open to learning and adapting. This app is ‘not for profit‘ and doesn’t infringe on people by tracking them, just their symptoms. While being paid for work is important, the motive here was not to capitalise on a difficulty situation. That is reassuring in terms of the independence from government.

by AlJones on May 10, 2020 at 10:07AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.6
Based on: 11 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Mitchy May 10, 2020 at 10:47

    Is this a different App to the one currently being discussed by the UK government? A not for profit App will reassure people that tracking is in relation to symptoms and not about tracking personal information which some people are concerned about. I did wonder about Scotland shutting her borders to allow studies of the apps data to be more effective but realise the complications of the logistics of this.

  • Posted by Applepie May 10, 2020 at 12:30

    This is a massive resource for the UK and will help us understand things quickly. The team in Lo don are doing a great job interpreting the data and investigating new leads.

  • Posted by geforse1 May 10, 2020 at 17:49

    This is valuable source of reliable data, managed by genuine experts independent of governments. Really needs better promotion to increase the numbers contributing.

  • Posted by Nm May 10, 2020 at 22:25

    This app is very easy to use. With more subscribers, it could provide a very useful early warning of local flare-ups. Families can input for the young or the elderly. Could this be extended to care home settings too?

  • Posted by Abigail May 11, 2020 at 00:36

    The group is currently fundraising...why are they not in receipt of public funding?

  • Posted by AlexMD May 11, 2020 at 07:52

    Not helpful. Will simply add increased anxiety due to 1 in a million symptoms.
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