COVID-19: More than half a million people in England were questioned by the NHS testing and tracing app in a week, the highest figure on record | UK News

More than half a million people in England were surveyed by the NHS Test and Trace app in a week, the highest figure on record.

A total of 520,194 alerts were sent to NHS users COVID-19[female[feminine app in the week leading up to July 7, telling them they had been in close contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.

This is an increase from 356,677 the week before – an increase of 46% – and the highest weekly figure since the data was first released in January.

This morning, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the government was “concerned” about the number of people on work stoppage due to a “ping” by the application.

This is because some companies have reportedly lost 20% of their employees.

Mr Jenrick told LBC Radio today: “It is important that we have the app, that we take it seriously, that when we receive these messages, we act on it.”

But ministers would think “further” about how the government can ensure this is a “proportionate response,” Jenrick added.