Fast-forward to the spring of 2022, and these apps today get little attention.
This hopefully then breaks potential chains of transmission, limiting the viruss spread.
Did it work?
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Limited uptake in turn limited the apps impact.
At best, uptake was only about half what it needed to be.
And since this analysis was conducted, the nature of the pandemic has evolved.
As 2021 progressed, notifications sent by the appdeclined steadily.
What next?
Existing research doesnt give a firm indication of what impact a contact-tracing app might have in a future outbreak.
But whats also clear is that a tool like this cannot be a substitute for other efforts.
If these apps return to widespread use, they would need to be part of a package of controls.
And if apps were to be relied on again, several issues would need careful attention.
Firstly, theres the question of personal data.
Surveyingshows that concerns about personal data use were lower in the context of controlling COVID.
Another issue to resolve is the unevenness of these apps use.
It hasnt, though, completely abandoned the NHS COVID-19 app.
