By Carole Dennett
Secretary of State for Health Matthew Hancock MP, has confirmed this evening that lockdown measures will not be lifted early on the Isle of Wight despite the NHS App for contract tracing being trialled here.
Responding to a question from Oliver Dyer from Isle of Wight Radio during the daily Coronavirus briefing Mr Hancock encouraged Islanders to download the app which is being made available to Islanders in advance of its rollout across the rest of the country and said he was pleased to learn that a poll on Isle of Wight Radio today resulted in 80 per cent of Islanders who responded saying they would download the App once it was launched.
Leader of the IW Council Dave Stewart has welcomed the app being made available on the Island, but said that he does not want the Isle of Wight to be a ‘guinea pig for anything’.
It is hoped that at least 50 per cent of Islanders will download the App to ensure that it can be used as a tool to trace, track and test those who may be at risk of contracting the Coronavirus over the coming weeks. It is expected that the App will be made available across the UK later this month.
