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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2020/may/21/uk-coronavirus-live-news-update-covid-test-and-trace-second-wave
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| UK coronavirus live: launch test and trace or risk second wave, NHS leaders warn | UK coronavirus live: launch test and trace or risk second wave, NHS leaders warn |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Government told it is running out of time to kick off testing system | Government told it is running out of time to kick off testing system |
| My esteemed colleague Sarah Boseley has written a very good explainer on the government’s test, track and trace strategy, which is dominating the headlines this morning. | My esteemed colleague Sarah Boseley has written a very good explainer on the government’s test, track and trace strategy, which is dominating the headlines this morning. |
| But in brief, the strategy aims to: | But in brief, the strategy aims to: |
| Test people to see if they currently have the virus. | |
| Track how and where the virus is spreading. | |
| Trace people who may be infected. | |
| Central to this plan has been a new NHS app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight. | Central to this plan has been a new NHS app currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight. |
| Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said last week that the app would be ready to start being rolled out in mid-May. However, ministers now say it won’t be ready until the next few weeks. | Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said last week that the app would be ready to start being rolled out in mid-May. However, ministers now say it won’t be ready until the next few weeks. |
| The clock, as NHS figures are saying this morning, is very much ticking. The government’s own scientific advisers say that a comprehensive and rapid test, track and trace system is crucial to any easing of the lockdown. | The clock, as NHS figures are saying this morning, is very much ticking. The government’s own scientific advisers say that a comprehensive and rapid test, track and trace system is crucial to any easing of the lockdown. |
| Security minister James Brokenshire is touring the TV and radio studios for the government this morning. | Security minister James Brokenshire is touring the TV and radio studios for the government this morning. |
| Responding to concerns from NHS leaders about delays to the test, track and trace system, Brokenshire insists he is “confident” that it will be in place by 1 June (11 days from now). | |
| Brokenshire told Sky News that the app “will be introduced in the coming weeks in parallel” with the system employing track and trace staff. He added: | Brokenshire told Sky News that the app “will be introduced in the coming weeks in parallel” with the system employing track and trace staff. He added: |
| Pushed on whether the app is needed to competently track and trace, Brokenshire told Kay Burley: “Of course Kay, we want to see the app rolled out, work continues at pace in relation to that, learning from the experience in the Isle of Wight, so that that can be adopted more broadly.” Brokenshire added that the app provides “extra support”. | Pushed on whether the app is needed to competently track and trace, Brokenshire told Kay Burley: “Of course Kay, we want to see the app rolled out, work continues at pace in relation to that, learning from the experience in the Isle of Wight, so that that can be adopted more broadly.” Brokenshire added that the app provides “extra support”. |
| Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS providers – which represents hospital trusts – has said the health service risks being “overwhelmed” in a second peak of Covid-19 unless ministers quickly set out a clear strategy for its test, track and trace programme. | Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS providers – which represents hospital trusts – has said the health service risks being “overwhelmed” in a second peak of Covid-19 unless ministers quickly set out a clear strategy for its test, track and trace programme. |
| He said NHS Trusts, GPs and workers on the 111 service have “not had clear information and instructions about what their role will be in this process”. | He said NHS Trusts, GPs and workers on the 111 service have “not had clear information and instructions about what their role will be in this process”. |
| He added: | He added: |
| Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of UK developments on the coronavirus pandemic.Leading the headlines today are NHS leaders warning that the government is running out of time to launch its test and trace system if a possible second wave of coronavirus is to be avoided.Niall Dickson, the chief executive of the NHS Confederation - which represents organisations across the healthcare sector, wrote to the health secretary, Matt Hancock, because his members were “concerned” over an apparent lack of a clear strategy. | |
| “We would therefore urge you to produce such a strategy with a clear implementation plan ahead of any further easing of the lockdown,” Dickson said in his letter.Test, track and trace - TTT - means testing people for coronavirus, tracking the spread of the virus, then tracing the people with whom an infected person has come into contact. The government’s own scientific advisers have said such a system is critical to any lifting of the lockdown.We will bring you all the day’s developments from the Commons and beyond. Thank you for joining us. |