A survey has shown that while there is a willingness by the public to download a contract tracing app to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, many have concerns with it over privacy.
Dr Michael O'Callaghan, General Practitioner and researcher at the UL School of Medicine, who worked on the survey over 8,000 people says there is a body of work to be done in order to encourage people to download a contact tracing app.
The HSE says that a Covid-tracker app is ready to launch in an effort to help trace people who have come into contact with people who become infected with Covid-19.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Dr O'Callaghan said that while there is a general public willingness to "pitch in" and improve the ability to contact trace more effectively, nearly two thirds (59%) of people who took part in the recent survey could think of at least one reason that would discourage them from installing the app.
The most common reason was a concern that technology companies or the Government might use the information for greater surveillance after the pandemic.
Dr O'Callaghan said it would be helpful if the HSE could give more information, including where the information is to be stored.
The survey conducted by UL and NUIG found that 82% of Irish adults are willing to download a contact tracing app to their smartphone.
However, Dr O'Callaghan said the online survey needs to be expanded to "less tech savvy" people to see if they would be willing to use an app.
He said the HSE has developed a Bluetooth-based Covid tracker app, which means a phone will remember any other phones it comes into close contact with.
He said this is very different from a geolocation or tracing app, which logs where people go.
Further details on the launch of the HSE's contact tracing app are expected later this week.
Meanwhile, there are 11 patients in intensive care units, with confirmed Covid-19, according to the latest overnight figures from the HSE.
In addition to these, a further nine patients are in ICU suspected of having the virus.
Across the acute hospital system, there are 95 intensive care beds now free for patients, plus 459 general beds.
The total number of patients in hospitals,(including in ICU), with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 is 183.
Of those 37 have the virus, while 146 are suspected cases waiting for their test result.
Most of the confirmed cases are being treated at the Mater (nine), Galway (five) and Tallaght (five).
