Scotland on Thursday launched a smartphone app for tracking coronavirus cases using technology developed by Apple and Google, while neighbouring England is still struggling to roll out its own troubled version, according to AFP.

The “Protect Scotland” app, developed by the UK nation's National Health Service (NHS), adopts the decentralised approach offered by the US tech giants to help fight the spread of Covid-19.

It alerts app users if they have been in close contact with another user who tests positive for the virus, and helps trace their other contacts “while keeping your information private and anonymous”, Scotland's devolved government said.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged Scots to adopt the tool, stressing it was “confidential” and users would be notified “anonymously”.