Boris: We’ll be world-beaters at track and trace

BRITAIN will have a “worldbeating” system for testing and tracing new coronavirus infections in place by the end of the month, Boris Johnson predicted yesterday.

Insisting preparations are on course for the national monitoring network needed to allow the easing of the national lockdown, the Prime Minister promised that an army of 25,000 contract tracers will be operational from June 1.

They will have the capability to track 10,000 new cases of the killer disease every day, he added.

He said: “This country is now testing more than virtually any other country in Europe.”

Targets

Mr Johnson announced the new targets in the Commons in response to Labour criticism of the Government’s coronavirus testing programme.

It follows a warning from deputy chief scientific officer Angela McLean earlier this week that the lockdown can only be safely lifted once a widespread test-and-trace system is operating.

In a clash at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson accused Sir Keir Starmer of being “negative” about the effort to get a grip on the disease. The

Prime Minister told the Labour leader: “We have growing confidence that we will have a test, track and trace operation that will be world-beating,

“And yes, it will be in place by June 1.”

He added: “There will be 25,000 trackers, who will be able to cope with 10,000 new cases a day.

“That is very important because currently new cases are running at about 2,500 a day.

They will be able to trace the contacts of those new cases and stop the disease spreading.”

As tempers flared during his last clash with Sir Keir before the Commons Whitsun break, the Prime Minister urged the Labour leader to drop his negative tone.

He said: “Today the new cases stand at 2,400, so we are making fast progress in testing and tracing.

“And I have great confidence that by June 1 we will have a system that will enable us, help us very greatly, to defeat this disease and move the country forward. I hope therefore that he will abandon his slightly negative tone and support it.”

Sir Keir hit back: “Thirty-four thousand deaths is negative. Of course I am going to ask about that, and quite right too.”

He repeatedly pressed the Prime Minister over the pace of the testing programme and the

death toll from coronavirus in care homes.

The Labour leader said: “There has been no effective tracing in place since March 12, when tracing was abandoned.

“That is nearly 10 weeks in a critical period without effective tracing.

“That is a huge hole in our defences, isn’t it, Prime Minister?”

Mr Johnson said the coronavirus death rate in care homes had fallen by 31 per cent over the last week. Amid the terse exchanges, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle threatened to order Health Secretary Matt Hancock out of the Commons chamber for heckling the Labour front bench.

He told the Cabinet minister: “Sorry, do you want to leave the Chamber?

“We are at maximum numbers. If you want to give way to somebody else, I am more than happy.” Downing Street officials yesterday confirmed that the test-and-trace system will become operational before the new mobile phone app for logging coronavirus symptoms is rolled out.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said the app “is only one part of the system” and that there is a “tried and tested” system for tracing and testing people. The spokesman said the app would be “rolled out in the coming weeks”. Asked about comments by Health Minister Lord Bethell, who told peers on Tuesday that human contact tracing would come before the app, the spokesman said: “I wouldn’t disagree with that.”

The Department of Health said 60,744 people were tested in the 24 hours to 9am on Wednesday.

IN today’s Daily Express, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock has vowed to wage war on the epidemic of obesity. It is not before time and is the sign of a minister who knows where the long-term health challenge for this nation lies.

Coronavirus has opened our eyes to many issues in this country, but the way that the disease has been particularly vicious with those who are overweight has been yet another lesson this is a medical issue that has to be dealt with head on.

Our Prime Minister Boris Johnson has himself noted that he needs to lose weight after his close shave with this awful disease. The picture is not pretty in Britain. According to official figures almost 30 per cent of people are obese.At the last count the UK rate put it 36th among all nations but in Europe only Malta has a worse problem. If you include those overweight, then it affects almost seven in 10 people.

While we understand sensitivities some people have about fat shaming, it is clear that we cannot continue in this way.

Coronavirus aside, being obese increases the chances of diabetes, strokes, getting a heart condition and many more problems. It also puts immense pressure on the NHS.

While this newspaper will never advocate a nanny state approach and we believe people should be free to choose what they eat and drink within reason, it is nevertheless important that we all take responsibility for our diet and exercise.

Certainly, after the country followed advice so carefully on the coronavirus, the Government should perhaps take the opportunity to be as clear on the dangers of becoming overweight.