Residents of the Spanish island of La Gomera have started downloading a new app

Residents of the Spanish island of La Gomera have started downloading a new app on their phones aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 infections in a pilot which will test the technology by simulating an outbreak of the disease.

If the test succeeds on the island, which with a population of around 22,000 is one of the smallest in the Canary archipelago popular with tourists, it may be rolled out nationwide.

Authorities will give users randomly generated codes, some of which will show they are positive for COVID-19 for the purposes of the simulation, to record contacts between people using Bluetooth technology and alert them if they have been in contact with one of the “positive” cases.

Organisers hope 3,000 people will download the app, allowing them to inject 300 simulated positive diagnoses into the system to mimic a 10% infection rate.