QR Code cannot be re-added after accidental deletion

[daimpi]

Avoid duplicates

checked. This issue was reported under Android, I'm not sure whether this could also apply to iOS though. If this is the case feel free to move it to the documentation repo.

Describe the bug

Somebody on Twitter asked me to post this for them: they recently got tested, entered the QR code in the App, but accidentally deleted it shortly afterwards. When trying to scan it again, they get an error. Now they can’t find out about their test result.

Expected behaviour

After deleting the test, it should be possible to add it again without an error occurring

Technical details

• CWA version 1.1.1

Additional context

Twitter Thread: https://twitter.com/VerpissDichh/status/1289974550315204608

[thomasaugsten]

Hi unfortunately this is not possible. We have to ensure only one phone can scan the qr code and submit his diagnoses keys. We are not allowed to save an ID of the phone this is the reason why the qr code is only valid for one scan.
Please wait for the normal way (a letter via post mail or Gesundheitsamt calls you) of the test lab to get your result.

[vaubaehn]

@daimpi
Do you know if there is any information shown to the user during the process of scanning the qr-code or before deleting, that after deleting the qr-code becomes invalid?
If not, it might be worth to ping maintainers/dev again, to ask for improvement of ux -> inserting warning that qr-code becomes non-reversible invalid after deleting, and user has to wait for the normal way after.

[daimpi]

@vaubaehn I unfortunately don't know what kind of warning message comes up in case you try to delete an entry, I was just forwarding this issue for someone on twitter. And yes I agree, that warning should at least make it very clear that deletion will be permanent and re-scanning will not work.

@thomasaugsten thanks for the explanation, could you maybe point us in the direction where to find the warning messages in case of an attempted deletion?

[thomasaugsten]

This is the current text of the alert

cwa-app-android/Corona-Warn-App/src/main/res/values-de/strings.xml

Line 810 in fb7267d

<string name="submission_test_result_dialog_remove_test_message">"Der Test wird endgültig aus der Corona-Warn-App entfernt und kann nicht wieder hinzugefügt werden. Dieser Vorgang kann nicht widerrufen werden."</string>

[vaubaehn]

The warning message is indeed very clear...

[daimpi]

Yes agreed 🙂.

And if there is anyway a second line of notification via phone/mail to fall back on, it's also not the end of the world if someone actually deletes their result. I was afraid that this line might not exist, which would have been a much worse situation.

[SouhaibBenFarhat]

Just to add something here, it's not a user friendly experience at all to show the Delete Test as a main call to action button after scanning the QR code and at the same showing a very small line of text before scanning to tell users that the QR code is only usable once. I actually deleted the Test accidentally and know i'm stuck without a test result and I'm not allowed to take the flight because of that. Really sad but please improve this.

[MikeMcC399]

@SouhaibBenFarhat

I'm not allowed to take the flight because of that.

I'm sorry to hear that you have had difficulties!

Are you saying that you wanted to show an airline a negative result from a PCR test using the Corona-Warn-App (CWA), so that you could fly? Was this an international flight and were you planning to fly from or to Germany?

The test result in CWA is not personalized. For the person being tested there is no:

• name
• date of birth
• address

contained in the test result, so it cannot be verified to whom the test result belongs. The test registration and result-delivery process with the app is deliberately (pseudo-)anonymous for data protection reasons.

See example screenshot of negative test result from the Screenshots page.

[dsarkar]

@SouhaibBenFarhat Thank you for contributing here.

1. Of course it is unfortunate that you deleted the test accidentally.
2. As @MikeMcC399 already commented, the functionality of the Corona-Warn-App to transfer Covid test result is anonymised, i.e. in general it will not be accepted as a negative PCR test result proof for travelling.
3. You will typically get your test result additionally via email, also typically it should include at least full name and passport number for the purpose of travelling. I would suggest you, to contact the test centre where you have done the PCR test and confirm with them that you need this document for travelling purposes.

Best wishes, DS

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Corona-Warn-App Open Source Team