Woman with Mask and phone

The idea of using facial recognition for Covid-19 “immunity passports” has been suggested by Andrew Bud, chief executive of iProov. The company behind the NHS app.

App

The NHS app system is for Android and iOS and not to be confused with the in-development COVID-19 app. It is a system for use in England and allows users to access a range of NHS services via smartphone or tablet.

The app can currently be used to get advice about coronavirus, order repeat prescriptions, book appointments, and check symptoms. Additionally it may be used to view the user’s medical records, register an organ donation decision, and to find out how the NHS uses their data.

Facial Recognition

Users of the app have to submit a photo of themselves from an official document such as their passport or driving license. The system uses this as the basis for facial recognition. It enables a user to verify their identity and access NHS services via the app.

Each time the user logs in using facial recognition, the system scans a person’s face using their phone/tablet camera. This involves the user seeing a short sequence of flashing colours.

The Basis of an Immunity Passport

In support of a suggestion made previously by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Andrew Bud, chief executive iProov has suggested that the trusted identity system of the NHS app could provide the basis for an “immunity passport”.

Immunity Passports

According to the Lancet, an immunity passport is; a “digital or physical document that certify an individual has been infected and is purportedly immune to SARS-CoV-2” .  The idea of an immunity passport is something that has been considered by governments including Chile, Germany, Italy, the UK, and the USA.  It could be used to exempt individuals from physical restrictions and enable them to return to work, school, and daily life.

Issues

While an immunity passport is an option, some of the issues with this idea are that:

  • There is no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection. As stated by the WHO, April 24th 2020.
  • A false-positive and an immune status could make that passport holder change their behaviour despite still being susceptible to infection and able to infect others.
  • Artificial restrictions in society could result for those who don’t have an immunity passport. This could lead to discrimination, inequality, corruption, and bias. It could also lead to extra costs for those in countries that don’t have access to (free) health care at the point of delivery.
  • Immunity passports for some could restrict travel and civil liberties. It could incentivise people to become infected in order to get the benefits that such a passport could bring.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

All businesses want to provide a safe environment for their staff, their customers, and stakeholders as we move out of lockdown restrictions. Where economies still must function in an environment where COVID-19 is still a serious threat.  

An immunity passport sounds as though it could indicate that a person is of less risk e.g. when accessing services. However, not enough is known about whether a person can contract the virus more than once. Thereby the effectiveness and validity of the system becomes limited.  Also, it does depend on how widely such a system is used. Furthermore, there are many other issues based around discrimination to consider.

However, facial recognition on an app does sound like it could form a trusted base. It could be useful for a system that requires accurate verification.

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