England's Covid-19 test and trace programme to launch on Thursday

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A Covid-19 test and trace service will start in England on Thursday to allow the loosening of lockdown measures for most of the population, Reuters reports.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears before the Liaison Committee via Zoom from the cabinet room at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, May 27. — Reuters
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson appears before the Liaison Committee via Zoom from the cabinet room at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, May 27. — Reuters

“[From tomorrow] there is a new test and trace operation which will change people’s lives and which will require a great deal of thought and compliance but which I think will be worth it for the whole nation,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told lawmakers.

The service, which will have a task force of 40,000 specialists to test those with symptoms and identify their contacts, will not initially include the app that is key to finding anonymous contacts.

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