London trial for track and trace as deadline looms for ministers

Ministers are set to pilot the Covid-19 track and trace system in 10 areas as they race to meet a June 1 deadline.

The trial areas are expected to be in Camden, Surrey, Norfolk, Tameside in Greater Manchester, Warwickshire, Leeds, Devon, Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Leicestershire.

Security minister James Brokenshire insisted that an effective system would be in place by the start of next month, when some primary schools are expected to reopen for more year groups, and possibly some non-essential shops.

However, he admitted that track and trace may have to rely initially on the army of at least 24,000 people recruited for the crucial task as an NHS contact tracing app still had “technical issues”.

It was expected to have been ready to be rolled out in the middle of this month.

The Government is under pressure to meet its deadline of an effective system across the country by June 1, rather than having a patchy network in the process of being built up.

The challenge facing the Government was highlighted by an official study estimating the number of new Covid infections a week at 61,000.

Boris Johnson told the Commons yesterday that by the start of next month the track and trace system would be able to cope with 10,000 new infections a day.

Boris Johnson in the Commons
via REUTERS

The “manual” system would see tracers phoning and emailing people suspected of having been in contact with a person newly-infected with coronavirus.

However, NHS leaders warned that this action to control the future spread was coming late in the day and stressed there were concerns how it would operate locally.

The pilots, which will have to be carried out at pace, are being done as responses to outbreaks may vary depending on local factors.

A district with more people vulnerable to the virus, such as elderly residents, may have to impose more stringent restrictions.

Local health chiefs may also be able to take decisions more quickly given their detailed knowledge of their areas and its social make-up and other risk factors.

Mr Brokenshire said he believed it was safe for schools to return before the contact tracing app is rolled out, adding that it would “supplement” human contact tracers.

James Brokenshire
Getty Images

He told Sky News: “I think it is important that we put in place all the things we can as quickly as we can.

“We obviously want to see that the app is put in place well and effectively, learning from the experience in the Isle of Wight and dealing with any... all of the feedback that we’re receiving on some of the technical issues, to ensure that it is as strong as we can make it.

“But that should not stand in the way of the introduction of the track and trace arrangements that I’ve explained.”

He added: “We are confident that the system will be there, able to track and trace around 10,000 people (per day) on June 1.”

But the NHS Confederation issued a stark warning that time is running out to finalise a strategy to avoid a potential second surge of Covid-19.

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the body which represents health and care leaders, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Our concern is that this has been done quite late in the day, we haven’t yet seen the detail.

“In particular, I think we’re concerned at the role of local contact tracing and how that complements what is happening at national level.”

Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, told BBC Breakfast his members have “not had clear information and instructions about what their role will be” in the system. In other key developments:

John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Heathrow airport, signalled his tacit support for Government plans to impose a 14-day quarantine programme for anyone arriving in the UK from abroad, but firmly backed the idea of “air bridges” between countries with lower infection levels.

EasyJet is to resume a small number of mainly domestic flights from 22 European airports from June 15.

Mr Brokenshire said the Government is looking at implementing a “key word” system so domestic abuse victims struggling in lockdown can access help.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said he remains “very cautious” about easing more lockdown measures as cases continue to fall in the capital.

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