The NHS Covid App was released today and as a business we want to encourage our staff to use it. 

However I have a concern.

There are three instances they advise you deactivate it (the contract tracing element):

• If in locker
• If Perspex screens in place
• If wearing PPE (Surgical face mask or FFP2/3 mask) and in medical environment.

I have paraphrased the above and here is the source: https://faq.covid19.nhs.uk/article/KA-01121/en-us?parentid=CAT-01031&rootid=CAT-01023

My problem is this, since the start of the pandemic we have been advised not to use surgical masks outside of the medical environment as this will reduce availability for the NHS etc.

Our scenario:

We have run down the hierarchy and put loads of measures in place. But we are left with instances where social distancing at times and for periods greater than 15 minutes cannot be achieved.  We have looked into it, but the task has to be done

The HSE in their guidance titled Face Coverings and face masks at work during the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic acknowledge that these instances do exist and recommend face coverings.

(https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/ppe-face-masks/face-coverings-and-face-masks.htm)

Option 1: Provide face coverings in these instances and advise colleagues to turn off app

Problem with Option 1: Contradicts the guidance from the NHS as they do not include any reference to face coverings.  If they don’t turn app off then we may see a number of colleagues having to isolate.

Option 2:  Provide surgical face masks and advise colleague to turn off app

Problem with Option 2: Contradicts the guidance from the NHS as we do not operate in a medical environment.  Also we have the moral dilemma am I adding to a shortage of these by insisting on their use and also potentially driving up the price for the NHS.

Not my industry but to give an example where this will manifest itself; hairdressers or other close proximity beauty businesses.

Has anyone seen any advice, clarification or this, as I want to support this, I want it to succeed and I want to ensure that we are following the guidance.

The introduction of the app means the government has finally taken back some responsibility for what is a public health issue, not occupational health, and safety. Just listen to Mister Hancock and smile and wave.

"medical grade PPE"

That ain't "surgical masks" then!

"Evaluating the protection afforded by surgical masks against influenza bioaerosols"

"This study focussed on the effectiveness of surgical masks against a range of airborne particles. Using separate tests to measure levels of inert particles and live aerosolised influenza virus, our findings show that surgical masks provide around a 6-fold reduction in exposure. Live viruses could be detected in the air behind all surgical masks tested. By contrast, properly fitted respirators could provide at least a 100-fold reduction"

https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr619.pdf

App refuses to accept test results that were not booked through it e.g. hospital or PHE which given the number of false dawns you would have thought they could have got the basics right for launch.

Then as with all technology there are the backwards compatability issues the app only working with iOS 13.5 / Android 6 or above and Bluetooth 4.0.

Yet again saved by the CrapBerry :-)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-54296410

Edited by user 27 September 2020 15:23:20(UTC)  | Reason: added link to comparison with trial app