Tracking app offers a way out of lockdown, Sturgeon says
Technology “has a part to play” in helping the UK lift its coronavirus lockdown, Nicola Sturgeon said after the UK government confirmed it had commissioned an NHS app to help track the spread of the outbreak.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday that an app will alert other users if they have been in significant contact with someone recently who now has Covid-19 symptoms. MPS have said the contact tracing app must be open to proper scrutiny over its use of data.
The First Minister told journalists yesterday: “When we get to a point where we are starting to lift some of these restrictions – unfortunately I don’t think that will be in a matter of days – but when we get to that point, the ability then to test, trace, and isolate, becomes really important.
“Technology undoubtedly has a part to play in that.”
Mr Hancock said developers of the app, currently being tested, were working with the world’s leading tech companies and experts in clinical safety and digital ethics “so that we can get this right”.
The app would track a user’s movements, so that if they develop coronavirus symptoms, they would report it via the app which would send an alert anonymously to other users they had been in contact with.
Mr Hancock said in a commitment to transparency, the source code will be published, and sought to reassure people by promising the data will “only be used for NHS care and research” and will not be held any longer than is necessary.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth and acting Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey both said the app must be open to proper scrutiny.
Mr Ashworth said it is “vital to have the proper safeguards and transparency when it comes to capturing or mapping people’s data.”
Mr Davey called for “transparency”, and said it bolsters the case for an emergency recall of
Parliament. He said: “Any proposal on the use of mobile phone data or other technology to track people must also be scrutinised properly by MPS before a final decision is made, further strengthening our argument that Parliament should be recalled urgently.”
The Equality and Human Rightscommission saidit would be offering advice to the NHS on ensuring the new technology protected user privacy.
Chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath said: “The right to privacy is one of our most precious rights and it is good to hear the Health Secretary give assurances of handling this information with the highest ethical standards and for the shortest period necessary. We will be contacting the NHS to offer our advice and assistance.”
Professor Keith Neal, emeritus professor in the epidemiology of infectious diseases at the University of Nottingham, said the app could potentially be used as a route out of lockdown.
He cautioned that it will work better with widespread testing and large numbers of people using it. Prof Neal said: “Even with only testing clinical cases in hospital it will still identify some of those at risk.” at other countries in terms of how they think about release of lockdown measures.”
Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official spokesman maintained the UK was still on course to carry out the government’s pledge of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by the end of the month as he said 18,000 had been conducted in the 24 hours to Sunday morning. The spokesman said there had been “significant progress” in the attempt to improve testing of frontline NHS workers, with nearly 43,000 staff and their families tested so far.
The government also continues to face pressure over shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline NHS staff, as a growing number of health workers died.
At the weekend, the Royal College of Nurses issued new guidance that nurses who could not get adequate PPE should, as a “last resort”, refuse to work.
Mr Raab said: “We understand the importance of getting PPE to the front line whether it’s in care homes or the NHS. I think the strongest practical reassurance they will want and that we can give them is that over the Bank Holiday weekend over 16 million items were delivered and we are straining every sinew to roll them out even further and even faster.”
On the final day of the Easter bank holiday weekend, Mr Raab admitted the government had been “concerned” that the public “might start ignoring the advice or cutting corners given the temptation to go out into the sunshine”.
But he added: “In fact the overwhelming majority of people stayed at home and understood the importance of doing so. By staying home this weekend, you’ve saved lives.”
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson’s spokesman said the Prime Minister had tested negative forcoronavirusonleavinghospital following his admission to an intensive care unit and would follow medical advice on when to return to work.