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British Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove gestures while holding the Daily Covid-19 Digital News Conference with NHS Medical Director Professor Stephen Powis (no photo) to update on the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at 10 Downing Street in London, Great Britain, May 3, 2020. Pippa Fowles / 10 Downing Street / Flyer via REUTERS
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain will test a new coronavirus screening program next week on the Isle of Wight, near the south coast of England, Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said on Sunday as the government discussed how to minimize the risk of a second wave. infection
Suffering one of the worst death tolls in Europe from COVID-19, Britain is confident that the peak of the virus has passed and is now looking at how to restart its closed economy and ease social restrictions on citizens.
“This week we will be testing new testing, tracking and locating procedures on the Isle of Wight with a view to having that more fully operational by the end of this month,” Gove said at a press conference.
A massive testing system along with the ability to track people who have been in contact with those who tested positive are considered crucial to prevent a second spike and facilitate relaxation from a lockdown that has lasted nearly six weeks.
Gove said the system to be tested next week will include asking island citizens to download a smartphone app, as well as traditional ways to locate those who have come in contact with a positive patient.
“We will be able to make sure that people with the virus … can encourage them and their contacts to stay home, so that we can limit the potential of any outbreak,” Gove said.
The Isle of Wight has around 80,000 homes.
Report by William James; Editing by Estelle Shirbon
