Boost for contact tracing app as Isle of Wight pilot achieves more than 50pc take-up
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Hopes of delivering an effective contact tracing programme appear to have been given a boost after the pilot of the new NHSX app achieved more than 50 per cent take-up.
As part of the Government's plan to monitor and control outbreaks as the country comes out of lockdown, members of the public will be asked to download the app and alert the health authorities if they develop symptoms.
In recent weeks, senior MPs have expressed concern that the plans are too reliant on the app, pointing out that in places like Singapore the number of downloads has been disappointingly low.
However, this afternoon the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps revealed that more than half of the people on the Isle of Wight, where the app is being tested, had already downloaded it.
Experts have previously suggested that 60 percent of UK population will need to download it for the system to work, suggesting that the pilot is close to hitting the target.
It comes just hours after the Health Secretary Matt Hancock revealed that 126,000 tests were provided on Wednesday, surpassing the previous record of 120,000.
Mr Hancock has previously stated that the ability to conduct mass testing will be another vital part of the contact tracing system, as officials will need to test anyone with symptoms as well as the people they come into contact with.
