UK’s COVID-19 Track-And-Trace Confusion Persists

Surveillance and track-and-trace have emerged as the new focus of the UK’s COVID-19 control strategy, but a workable plan is yet to crystalize.

BATH, UK - MAY 9, 2020 : Close-up of the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app on an iPhone screen with a thumb hovering above it. The app is used to track contact between people with Coranavirus.

While the pilot program for the app that is seen as a major element in the UK’s COVID-19 surveillance effort proceeds to its planned conclusion, confusion reigns over the bigger track-and-trace picture for the UK. Launch timings and indeed the central content and direction of the national plan for surveillance of infected individuals and contact tracing remain unclear. National Health Service leaders it see as a critical element to ensure a second coronavirus spike does not occur.

A three-week trial of the UK government’s COVID-19 app was launched to the 140,000 population of the Isle of Wight...

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