British Property Federation: Property industry must support roll-out of NHS Covid-19 app

25 September 2020, London: The British Property Federation (BPF) today urges businesses of all sizes to lead the charge for the NHS Covid-19 app launched yesterday in England and Wales.

The property sector is in a unique position – as the developers and managers of buildings across the UK, including retail, offices, leisure, hospitality, healthcare, logistics and residential – to support and promote the adoption of the new NHS Covid-19 app. 

The app will enable QR check-in at venues, and it will be vital in supporting the NHS to contact multiple people when coronavirus outbreaks are identified.

More than one million people downloaded the app yesterday – and the property industry can support further, to ensure the widest possible uptake of the app, by embedding its use in places and buildings across the country.

The app’s features:

• Trace: find out when you've been near other app users who have tested positive for coronavirus.
• Alert: lets you know the level of coronavirus risk in your postcode district.
• Check-in: get alerted if you've visited a venue where you may have come into contact with coronavirus, using a simple QR code scanner. No more form filling.
• Symptoms: check if you have coronavirus symptoms and see if you need to order a test.
• Test: helps you order a test if you need to.
• Isolate: keep track of your self-isolation countdown and access relevant advice.

Melanie Leech, Chief Executive, British Property Federation comments:

“The property industry creates and manages the physical fabric of our towns and cities, and since the start of lockdown has been working tirelessly to keep places and buildings safe and secure.

“The BPF’s members, the developers and managers of the sorts of places where people meet and socialise, including shopping centres and office buildings, are committed to supporting the roll-out of the NHS Covid-19 app.

“We, however, urge all property businesses to join us in this commitment – as stewards of places and buildings across the UK, our industry is well-placed to drive momentum behind the uptake of this app. The app’s effectiveness will depend on businesses and people embedding its use in their daily lives, particularly at locations where people meet.

“This is our opportunity to support the NHS in gaining systematic control over the spread of Covid-19.”