Health bosses and politicians are urging people in the area to download the NHS track and trace app to their smart phones - after it was finally made available this week.

The app, which has been worked on by the Government for some time, is now live and will notify users if they come into contact with someone who tests positive for Coronavirus.

The delay in launching the app has been criticised by opposition politicians, however with the app now live, MPs and local health bosses are urging people to make sure they use it.

Colin Cox, Cumbria’s director of public health, said: "I’m strongly encouraging people to download the app.

"The more people who use it the more powerful it becomes in helping us stop the spread of this virus. I know it has been a long time coming and people may be sceptical, but the trials of the system elsewhere in the country have gone well and it’s clear this is an important weapon in our fight against COVID-19.

"I want to stress that the app cannot be used to identify you, track you, check if you are self-isolating or by law enforcement, but it can make a significant difference to our ability to keep the virus under control."

Dr Shahedal Bari, Medical Director, NHS University Hospitals Morecambe Bay Trust, echoed Mr Cox's calls.

He said: "Its really important that as many people as possible download the NHS Test and Trace App and use it, and that businesses display the signage as well to enable it to be fully helpful.

"It will be really important in ensuring that the NHS Test and Trace service are able to protect others in society by tracing contacts.

"We will be supporting this by displaying the compatible QR codes at our hospital sites and we urge others across our community to do so."

The app can allow authorities to understand where the virus is spreading, and this can be done while keeping the user's identity anonymous.

The app also allows users to ‘check-in’ to local businesses by scanning the NHS Test & Trace QR code poster that many businesses are now required by law to display. The app will alert users if they have come into contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

Businesses covered by the new law that do not display a QR code poster can be fined up to £4,000.

Barrow MP Simon Fell added: “The new NHS Covid-19 app will be an important tool for helping to reduce the spread of the virus. I urge everyone in Furness who can to download this new app as soon as possible."