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UK coronavirus live: Matt Hancock launches track and tracing app test on Isle of Wight; death toll reaches 28,734 UK coronavirus live: Matt Hancock launches track and tracing app test on Isle of Wight; death toll reaches 28,734
(32 minutes later)
UK death toll rises by 288 but full figures may be delayed by weekend reporting; daily testing again falls below 100,000 target; Nightingale hospital in London put ‘on standby’ after running out of patientsUK death toll rises by 288 but full figures may be delayed by weekend reporting; daily testing again falls below 100,000 target; Nightingale hospital in London put ‘on standby’ after running out of patients
Q: Given the lockdown still applies on the Isle of Wight, will it generate enough data for the app?
Hancock says he thinks it will. There is a busy hospital on the island. And new cases are occurring, he says.
He says test, track and trace will be more effective when there are fewer cases.
And that’s it. The press conference is over.
I’ll post a summary soon.
Q: Can you assure people from the Isle of Wight that there data will be safe?
Yes, says Hancock.
He says the app has been designed with privacy in mind. It has been signed off by the national cyber security centre. The data is stored on your phone, until it needs to contact other people. The highest level of privacy is built in, he says.
Newton says the app itself does not hold personal information. He goes on:
Q: Last year you said there was a strong argument for making vaccines compulsory for children going to school. Would that apply to a coronavirus vaccine?
Hancock says the public reaction to the lockdown suggests there would be “very, very high” levels of take-up without compulsion.
He does not rule anything out, he says. But he is proceeding on the basis that compulsion would not be necessary.
Van-Tam says it is “more likely than not” that the first vaccines will be licensed for adults. He says it is the elderly, not children, who are mot at risk of death.
Q: So what is your message to anti-vaxxers?
Hancock says coronavirus shows how essential vaccines can be. Vaccines will only be licensed if they are safe.
Q: What do you make of research suggesting a link between air pollution and susceptibility to coronavirus?
Van-Tam says there is already extensive evidence that air pollution contributes to other illnesses. He has not looked at the link with coronavirus, but he finds the link entirely plausible.
Q: You probably have antibodies. Would you feel happy going into a crowded room?
Not yet, says Hancock.
He says he hopes that people with antibodies will have a low rise of transmitting the disease, and a low risk of getting it. That is normally the case with coronaviruses.
But he does not know yet. So he cannot base policy on that, he says.
Q: How has your understanding of immunity developed?
Hancock says there are surveys taking place looking at how many people have antibodies.
The test shows if antibodies are there. The next phase will be to know what impact those have on someone not getting the illness again. The science on that is getting clearer, he says.
Van-Tam says they need to find out if people to get antibodies after having the illness. Some research is underway. The “overwhelming majority” of people who have had Covid have antibodies in their bloodstream.
Do those antibodies protect you from further infections? Van-Tam says we just don’t know yet. But he says he hopes the answer will be yes.
The next question is, how long do those antibodies last? With other coronaviruses, antibodies do not persist for years and years and years. He says we do not know yet if that is the case with Covid-19. But a “massive” piece of work is underway to find out. He says they cannot make the science go any faster. They just have to be patient.
But, when they do have the answers, antibody testing could be an essential part of the strategy.
Hancock says he is in one of these trials. He had coronavirus. And his blood is regularly tested to see if he is developing antibodies.
Q: How low do you have to get transmission rates?
Hancock says he cannot put a figure on that.
Q: Some Isle of Wight Radio listeners are worried social distancing will be lifted early on the island because of the pilot.
Hancock says there are no plans to lift the social distancing measures early on the island. The plan is to ease the restrictions at the same pace everywhere, he says.
Q: [From Isle of Wight radio] We ran a poll today showing 80% of listeners said they would install the app. But the island has an elderly population. Why was the island chosen?
Hancock welcomes the 80% poll result. The more people download the app, the better, he says.
But he accepts that not everyone has a smartphone on the Isle of Wight.
But that is another reason for choosing the island, he says. If you tested it somewhere were everyone had a smartphone, that might be too easy, he says.
Newton says the island is very suitable. Travel on and off the island is relatively restricted, he says.
And he says some elderly people are tech-savvy.
He also says people do not need the app to benefit.
The people most likely to be mobile will be the people most likely to have a smartphone, he says.
Q: The most successful contact tracing systems rely on people, as well as technology. Are you putting too much faith in an app?Q: The most successful contact tracing systems rely on people, as well as technology. Are you putting too much faith in an app?
Hancock says he accepts that the part played by people, the contact tracers and members of the public, is vital.Hancock says he accepts that the part played by people, the contact tracers and members of the public, is vital.
Prof John Newton from Public Health England agrees. He says “shoe leather epidemiology”, having people on the streets, is essential too.Prof John Newton from Public Health England agrees. He says “shoe leather epidemiology”, having people on the streets, is essential too.
He says he hopes the Isle of Wight pilot will provide useful lessons.He says he hopes the Isle of Wight pilot will provide useful lessons.
Q: Isn’t it hard to pilot this when people are social distancing?Q: Isn’t it hard to pilot this when people are social distancing?
Hancock does not accept that. There are still new cases, he says. So contact tracing can have an impact.Hancock does not accept that. There are still new cases, he says. So contact tracing can have an impact.
Q: How will businesses be able to get PPE if the NHS also needs those supplies?Q: How will businesses be able to get PPE if the NHS also needs those supplies?
Hancock says the government will make sure the NHS take priority.Hancock says the government will make sure the NHS take priority.
He says this factor will be taken into account as the government considers the way forward.He says this factor will be taken into account as the government considers the way forward.
Hancock says the government is making rapid progress in recruiting its 18,000 contact tracers.Hancock says the government is making rapid progress in recruiting its 18,000 contact tracers.
The first ones will start work this week, as they deal with the Isle of Wight.The first ones will start work this week, as they deal with the Isle of Wight.
But there is no magic about 18,000, he says. If more are needed, the government will hire them.But there is no magic about 18,000, he says. If more are needed, the government will hire them.
Hancock reads out a question from Conrad from Ashford. He asks if the aim is to suppress the virus, or to keep it at manageable levels.Hancock reads out a question from Conrad from Ashford. He asks if the aim is to suppress the virus, or to keep it at manageable levels.
Hancock says the aim is to keep the numbers down. Test, track and trace becomes more effective these less transmission there is. The goal is not just to flatten the curve. It is to keep pushing it down. He says he wants to keep the reproduction number below 1.Hancock says the aim is to keep the numbers down. Test, track and trace becomes more effective these less transmission there is. The goal is not just to flatten the curve. It is to keep pushing it down. He says he wants to keep the reproduction number below 1.
Hancock is now taking questions from members of the public.Hancock is now taking questions from members of the public.
The first is from a man who asks what is being done to protect BAME workers in the NHS.The first is from a man who asks what is being done to protect BAME workers in the NHS.
Hancock says a disproportionate number of NHS and care workers from a BAME background have died. He pays tribute to them. He says a programme has been put in place to help address this.Hancock says a disproportionate number of NHS and care workers from a BAME background have died. He pays tribute to them. He says a programme has been put in place to help address this.
Van-Tam says the NHS is taking this “incredibly seriously”. A large programme of work has been put in place. He says the NHS will get to the bottom of this.Van-Tam says the NHS is taking this “incredibly seriously”. A large programme of work has been put in place. He says the NHS will get to the bottom of this.
But it is complicated, he says. He says different age cohorts are a factor. And underlying health factors. And deprivation.But it is complicated, he says. He says different age cohorts are a factor. And underlying health factors. And deprivation.
Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, is going through the daily charts now.Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, is going through the daily charts now.
Here are the daily testing figures.Here are the daily testing figures.
Here are the figures for new cases. Van-Tam says new cases need to fall even lower.Here are the figures for new cases. Van-Tam says new cases need to fall even lower.
Here is the final slide, showing the global death comparison.Here is the final slide, showing the global death comparison.
Van-Tam stresses that these figures show numbers, not rates. They are not adjusted per head of population.Van-Tam stresses that these figures show numbers, not rates. They are not adjusted per head of population.
Here is the government dashboard with latest UK data for coronavirus cases and deaths.Here is the government dashboard with latest UK data for coronavirus cases and deaths.
Hancock confirms that the NHS contract tracing app will be trialed this week in the Isle of Wight. Hancock confirms that the NHS contract tracing app will be trialled this week in the Isle of Wight.
He appeals to anyone living on the island to download the app. By doing so, they will be protecting themselves and the whole community, he says.He appeals to anyone living on the island to download the app. By doing so, they will be protecting themselves and the whole community, he says.
He says he is confident that people will help.He says he is confident that people will help.
He says he wants to hear how people find it.He says he wants to hear how people find it.
And he says this does not mean the end of social distancing.And he says this does not mean the end of social distancing.
Hancock says another 288 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, taking the total to 28,734.Hancock says another 288 people have died with coronavirus in the UK, taking the total to 28,734.
He says that is the smallest daily rise since the end of March, although he acknowledges that after a weekend, the daily reported rise in deaths tends to be lower than later in the week.He says that is the smallest daily rise since the end of March, although he acknowledges that after a weekend, the daily reported rise in deaths tends to be lower than later in the week.
Hancock says just over 85,000 coronavirus tests took place yesterday.Hancock says just over 85,000 coronavirus tests took place yesterday.
That’s a second day where the headline total has fallen below 100,000, the target for the end of April.That’s a second day where the headline total has fallen below 100,000, the target for the end of April.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is leading for the government at this afternoon’s press conference. He has just started.Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is leading for the government at this afternoon’s press conference. He has just started.
He says he will be focusing mostly on the government’s plans for test, track and trace.He says he will be focusing mostly on the government’s plans for test, track and trace.
Here is the start of a Twitter thread from the FT’s Chris Giles, who has been trying to model the total number of coronavirus-related deaths.Here is the start of a Twitter thread from the FT’s Chris Giles, who has been trying to model the total number of coronavirus-related deaths.