'Stay home. Protect the holiday': Tory MPs are deactivating the NHS app as they panic about being 'pinged' just before the Commons breaks up for its long summer break
- The Covid 19 software forces people to isolate for 10 days is pinged
- But politicians have admitted they have turned it off ahead of summer holiday
- The Commons rises for its six-week summer break in a fortnight
- MPs said they did not want to have to risk their partners' wrath over holidays
Tory MPs are deactivating the NHS Covid-19 app in case they get pinged and ruin their own holidays - and possibly their marriages.
The Covid 19 software forces people to isolate for 10 days if they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
But many politicians working in the Houses of Parliament have admitted they have turned it off.
The Commons rises for its six-week summer break in a fortnight and they said they did not want to have to cancel their vacations.
One MP told the Times that they were using the slogan: 'Stay home. Protect the holiday. Save your marriage.'
The Covid 19 software forces people to isolate for 10 days if they have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus.
But many politicians working in the Houses of Parliament have admitted they have turned it off.
'Colleagues are starting to work out they're highly likely to get pinged as things open up and cases rise,' one told the paper.
Ministers have ordered an urgent review of the NHS app following concerns it is bringing the system into disrepute by ordering too many people to self-isolate.
Sources told the Mail the app's 'sensitivity' will be reduced to cut the numbers being asked to isolate unnecessarily.
Figures yesterday revealed a record 50,000 a day were ordered to isolate by the app last week - more than half of the 85,000 told by the NHS to stay away from others.
At present, those using the NHS app are 'pinged' to self-isolate for ten days if they are found to have spent more than 15 minutes within two metres of someone who tests positive for the virus.
A computer algorithm identifies the 'risk' posed to everyone who came into contact with the infected person at any time from two days before they first displayed symptoms.
It is understood Health Secretary Sajid Javid is looking at reducing the sensitivity of the system. One option is that fully vaccinated people could be allowed to spend longer in close proximity with an infected person before being 'pinged', to reflect the extra protection vaccines provide.
Ministers are concerned that failing to reform the system could result in thousands deleting the app.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today urged people not to ignore the app if they are 'pinged' and advised to self-isolate.
Travel restrictions for people in England are due to be eased on July 19 but rules on self-isolation for people who are fully vaccinated will remain in place until August 16.
However, Mr Shapps said it is important that people continue to use the app.
'You shouldn't ignore this because it is vital information. People should want to know if they have been in contact with somebody with coronavirus. You don't want to be spreading it around. It can still harm people,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
He said the app is being kept under review to ensure it is 'calibrated in the right way' for the prevailing circumstances.
'The medical experts will advise us on what the level of sensitivity should be relative to where we are, for example, to our vaccination programme overall,' he said.
'We will follow scientific advice, keep this under review and tweak the app to be suitable to the circumstances of the time - double vaccination, for example, being at record highs in this country.'
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiiAFodHRwczovL3d3dy5kYWlseW1haWwuY28udWsvbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlLTk3NzIyMDkvU3RheS1ob21lLVByb3RlY3QtaG9saWRheS1Ub3J5LU1Qcy1kZWFjdGl2YXRpbmctTkhTLWFwcC1haGVhZC1Db21tb25zLXN1bW1lci1icmVhay5odG1s0gGMAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmRhaWx5bWFpbC5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FydGljbGUtOTc3MjIwOS9hbXAvU3RheS1ob21lLVByb3RlY3QtaG9saWRheS1Ub3J5LU1Qcy1kZWFjdGl2YXRpbmctTkhTLWFwcC1haGVhZC1Db21tb25zLXN1bW1lci1icmVhay5odG1s?oc=5
2021-07-09 09:27:29Z
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