LONDON – The UK is reportedly working with Apple and Google to build a COVID-19 contact-tracing app. As the country attempts to find a way out of lockdown, the technology unit of the National Health Service (NHS) is reportedly working with the two firms.
UK Wants to US Bluetooth Contact Tracing COVID-19 Tech
In an announcement on Friday, Apple and Google revealed that they are working together on the development of contact-tracing technology. In May, they will releases APIs that allow interoperability of public health authority COVID-19 apps across Android and iOS. “We will work to enable a broader Bluetooth-based contact tracing platform by building this functionality into the underlying platforms,” the companies also said.
The UK is understood to be interested in the Bluetooth contact-tracing technology. This work is happening at “breakneck speed”, according to the Sunday Times report. However, it is worth noting the timeline – of “months” laid out by Apple and Google for a rollout of Bluetooth-based tracing at the broader level.