​Covid app alerts under review

The policy of advising people to self-isolate after being pinged by the NHS is under review, Rishi Sunak has said.

The chancellor told Sky News health secretary Sajid Javid is considering an “appropriate, balanced and proportionate” approach for self-isolation.

He has spoken to Javid about “the frustration” that people have with the test and trace system, following reports that numerous people are deleting the application ahead of the government’s planned 19 July lockdown easing date through fear of being contacted.

Sunak said the health secretary is aware of concerns regarding how the app is working and suggested he is looking at possible solutions.

He said: “We have two different systems for the test and trace: we have obviously the NHS one, and we also have the app. I know most people’s concerns rest with how the app is working and the health secretary is aware of that.

“The app counts for the majority of the people who need to isolate, I understand, on the numbers - and he’s looking at what the most appropriate, balanced and proportionate approach to isolation is in these circumstances.”

Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality, said: “Really positive to hear that this policy continues to be under review and that there is a willingness to listen and evolve - we need a test to release scheme to support advisory pings. Already used in schools and international travel so no additional health risk.”

Latest Test and Trace figures show 356,036 alerts were sent to users of the app in England in the week to 30 June, telling them they had been in close contact with someone who had tested positive.

Downing Street confirmed work is “ongoing” with the app.

On Thursday, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed work is taking place to “tune” the NHS COVID app to take account of the fact increasing numbers of people have been vaccinated.

Speaking on Thursday, prime minister Boris Johnson said he knows “how frustrated people are” that changes to self-isolation rules for those who have had two vaccine doses and those under 18 are coming into force on 16 August and not in July.

“As the health secretary has said, we are moving now from self-isolation, from a quarantine approach, to testing, to a test and release approach - and the day is not too far away.”

He added: “It is coming to an end. And what we want to do is use this next few weeks just to do more vaccinations until we’re able to move from quarantining, from isolation to a test and release system.”