Question reference: S5W-35110
- Asked by: David Torrance, MSP for Kirkcaldy, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 9 February 2021
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Current status: Initiated by the Scottish Government. Answered by Jeane Freeman on 10 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether there are any plans to further develop the Protect Scotland app.
Answer
Close to 2 million people have already downloaded Protect Scotland, and almost 40,000 users have been advised to self-isolate by the app. However, due to the anonymous nature of the app to date those who have only been asked to self-isolate via the app – and have not been identified via the traditional contact tracing process – have not been able to use the app to provide proof for any claim for self-isolation support payments. Following careful consideration from 10 February we will introduce a mechanism for unique self-isolation certificates to be generated. These can be sent to employers or to Local Authorities in support of an application for a Self-Isolation Support Grant.
The process being applied is already live in Northern Ireland, has been ratified by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre and is designed to minimise the risk of fraud.
At the same time, following a previous announcement by Apple, we will make Protect Scotland available on older iPhones. Members will recall the frustration of many users of older iPhones who were unable to use the app. Apple have now made the Exposure Notification System available on these older phones, and from 10 February Protect Scotland will be available for download onto the iPhone 5S and iPhone 6.