·1 min read
We’ve now discovered, just by chance, that the Government quietly shelved the promised second version of the IW Tracing App - First we’d heard of it. That aside, here are details of a change of approach they’re considering
The NHSX Coronavirus Contact Tracing App was piloted on the Isle of Wight in May 2020, ahead of its planned general release across the country.
The idea was first mooted by Isle of Wight council (IWC) leader, Dave Stewart, in an interview with News OnTheWight, where he explained the IWC had put the Island forward as one of the first places to be used for the Government pilot.
On 18 June 2020 the UK Government announced they were scrapping the IW-trialed App and the centralised approach. It was revealed that the iPhone version barely worked, with only 4% of them being detectable. Instead, development of a new version using the Apple/Google decentralised approach is being pursued.
In August 2020, the Government launched a new version of the App, once again initially trialed on the Isle of Wight.
Below are articles which mention the Contact Tracing App or Test and Trace App.