Number of NHS App ‘Pings’ Falls by 43% In a Week but Remains Close to 400,000

The number of people told to self-isolate in one week by the NHS Covid app has finally fallen after previously rising for three weeks in a row, but the total number of ‘pings’ sent out remains high after businesses leaders said recent changes to the app came “too little, too late“. The Guardian has the story.

A total of 395,971 alerts were sent in the week to July 28th telling people in England and Wales they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive for coronavirus – down from 690,129 the week before.
Though reports have suggested that use of the app is decreasing, the large fall in alerts has been matched by a similar decline in the number of recorded cases over the same period.
A total of 189,232 people tested positive for Covid in England at least once in the week to July 28th, down 39% on the previous week, according to the latest test and trace figures.
The number of check-ins to venues using the app also dropped. There were 2.4 million check-ins in the week to July 28th in England and Wales – down 65% on the previous week.
A major incentive for having it downloaded was removed following the easing of coronavirus restrictions in England from July 19th onwards, when it ceased to be compulsory to check into venues, which most people did by scanning a QR code with the app.
The number of app downloads has shrunk dramatically since the rule change, while many others will have deleted it amid reports of a ‘pingdemic’ of workers across the country being forced to isolate after receiving alerts, affecting supply chains and the economy. …
Karan Bilimoria, the Confederation of British Industry President, said the fall in alerts was welcome but said businesses were still struggling with self-isolating employees.
“It’s good to see a steep fall in those having to self-isolate, but this doesn’t mean the problem has gone away. The latest numbers remain too high and illustrate the frustration facing firms as existing staff shortages are exacerbated by unnecessary self-isolation. Amending the app is a welcome recognition of the problem but won’t provide the solution,” Lord Bilimoria said.

Worth reading in full.