ACCORDING to the NHS Test and Trace app launched last night Worcester postcodes are classified as at 'medium risk.'

When you first register for the app, you are asked for the first half of your postcode, so you can be notified when your area’s risk level changes.

In England, risk level is based on the Local Authority watch list.

This is determined each week by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

It draws on advice from the Chief Medical Officer for England, NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and Public Health England.

Currently all Worcester postcodes are in the medium risk category.

In England, this means your local authority, or a neighbouring local authority, has high or rising levels of infection, according to the NHS website.

The app uses an Apple and Google-developed system, using Bluetooth to keep an anonymous log of people a user has been close to.

It does this by exchanging randomised keys while the Bluetooth signal strength measures proximity.

If someone falls ill, they can tell the app, which will then ping their keys to a central server and in turn send them off to all app users in search of a match.

Should the system determine a person as a close contact, they will be automatically sent a notification and issued with further guidance.

Professor Christophe Fraser, scientific adviser to the Test and Trace Programme, said: “Our Oxford University research team analysis has shown the potential to meaningfully reduce the number of coronavirus cases, hospitalisations and deaths across the population from as little as 15 per cent of the whole population downloading the app and following the guidance to self-isolate.

“This means each one of us can make a difference to help stop the spread of infection, save lives and help protect our loved ones.”