Coronavirus: Government’s contact tracing app could ‘exacerbate health inequalities’

Fears people in deprived communities could be ‘left behind’ when the app is fully rolled out across the UK

Only half of manual workers say they will use the government's contact tracing app (AFP via Getty Images)

Only half of manual workers, the unemployed and state pensioners say they will download the government’s contact tracing app, according to a new survey, sparking fresh concerns that the system could exacerbate health inequalities.

A study of 2,000 Britons showed that those in managerial, professional or administrative jobs were far more likely to use the app (73 per cent), prompting health officials to warn that deprived communities could be “left behind” when the digital platform is fully rolled out across the UK.

Almost three-quarters (71 per cent) of those with university degrees said they would download the app, according to a poll by the Health Foundation think tank. This fell to 63 per cent for those with A-levels only, and 59 per cent among people who had obtained GCSEs or equivalent.