8 minutes agoEngland begins a testing and tracking program Thursday
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)A test and tracking service for COVID-19 will begin in England on Thursday, allowing the softening of measures for most people, Britain's prime minister, Boris Johnson, has said. “From tomorrow ( Thursday) will have a new test and investigation operation that will change people's lives and that will [...]
A test and tracking service for COVID-19 will begin in England on Thursday, allowing the softening of measures for most people, Britain's prime minister, Boris Johnson, has said.
“From tomorrow ( Thursday) will have a new test and investigation operation that will change people's lives and that will require a large level of thought and co-operation, but worth the whole state”, Johnson told lawmakers Wednesday, British media reported.
The service, which will require a 40 thousand-strong task force to test those with symptoms and identify their contacts, will not include the app that is the key to revealing anonymous contacts. Health Minister Matt Hancock said the app, which is being tested on Wright Island, will be included later.
Contacts will be advised to isolate for 14 days, even if they don't show symptoms, Johnson added, saying it would be a big “duet”, but that it would apply to a small population number.
The “la is valid because this method has been used by other countries to open up to make sure we move forward. That blockup of a small number over a short period would allow us to gradually free 66 million from the current” situation, Johnson said.
He has said the system will initially depend on the spirit of British public co-operation, but sanctions could be applied if people do not co-operate. Britain has given up tracking testing in March, when the virus began to spread and had little capacity to test those with symptoms. Jacob has said that he has enough capacity now, up to 161,000 tests a day for all those who need to be tested. Dedo Harding, who is leading the programme, has said this will enable the national closure, which has been in force since March 23rd, to be replaced by individual isolation and local action where new cases appear. She has said the average number of contacts for an individual will be five, a reduction from 30 prior to the health crisis, due to the impact of social distance.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have similar programmes expected to begin or are already under way.
