More than 10million people have downloaded the new NHS Covid-19 app that helps identify those who have potentially come into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case.
However, a number of users have reported receiving a message about “possible Covid-19 exposure”, stating that it is “verifying exposure info”.
The alert also says “the app has accessed the date, duration and signal strength of this exposure”, but disappears and provides no more information when the user taps on it.
Instead it returns to the ‘your app is active and scanning’ display.
According to the BBC, the Department of Health is working on a fix.
The NHS website states the alerts are generated by underlying Apple and Google frameworks, rather than the NHS app itself.
It also tells people that "no action is required if your NHS COVID-19 app is not asking you to self-isolate”.
The NHS says these notifications may be called COVID-19 EXPOSURE LOGGING or COVID-19 Exposure Notifications.
The guidance explains: “These are default messages from Apple and Google. There is no need to be concerned if you miss or overlook them.
“You're currently not able to turn off these default Apple and Google notifications.
“Important messages from the NHS COVID-19 app will always be visible to you from inside the app.”
People only need to take action if they get a notification directly from the app itself. Its messages “will not disappear”, and will give advice once opened.
When to self-isolate
The NHS says people should always follow the advice given within the Covid-19 app.
The guidance says: “The message will read “The app has detected that you have been in contact with someone who has coronavirus. Please stay at home and self-isolate to keep yourself and others safe”.
“When you open the app it will tell you that you need to self-isolate.”
