Just 25% of postive Covid cases being uploaded to tracker app

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly at the launch of the Covid Tracker App in July 2020. The Covid app cost the HSE €850,000 to develop and was in gestation for four months before launching last summer. Picture: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos.

Only 25% of positive cases of Covid-19 have been reported by users of Ireland’s Covid tracker smartphone application, according to new research.

The study, compiled by Stephen Farrell and Doug Leith of Trinity College’s School of Science and Statistics, has raised serious questions about the impact and usage of the smartphone app, which was launched by the HSE to much fanfare last July.