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Coronavirus: 21,000 'track and tracers' hired to help ease lockdown

The health secretary thanks them "in advance for the live-saving work that they're about to do".

LONDON, ENGLAND  - MAY 18: A woman wearing a face mask stands at a bus stop next to a sign about wearing face masks on public transport on May 18, 2020 in London, England. The British government has started easing the lockdown it imposed two months ago to curb the spread of Covid-19, abandoning its 'stay at home' slogan in favour of a message to 'be alert', but UK countries have varied in their approaches to relaxing quarantine measures. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Image: The scheme will be up and running in 'weeks'
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More than 21,000 people have been recruited for the "track and trace" coronavirus programme to help ease England out of lockdown.

A third of them come from healthcare backgrounds and Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he is "perfectly prepared to hire more" if needed.

The workers will be used to track down people who have come into contact with infected individuals, as was done at the start of the pandemic before COVID-19 cases increased sharply and deaths reached more than 34,000.

A Junior Doctor holds his stethoscope during a patient visit on Ward C22 at The Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital in East Lancashire during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.
Image: Around a third of those recruited are already health professionals

But questions remain over when they will officially be put to work, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab refusing to say if the scheme will be up and running before some children are told to return to school on 1 June.

Mr Hancock announced the government had well-surpassed the original 18,000 target for the track and trace project in the Commons on Monday.

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"They will help trace the contacts of anyone who has had a positive test and advise them on whether they need to isolate," he explained.

"They have rigorous training with detailed procedures designed by our experts at Public Health England.

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"They have stepped up to serve their country in its hour of need and I want to thank them in advance for the live-saving work that they're about to do."

Mr Hancock also used his appearance before MPs to announce that anybody aged five and over who has coronavirus symptoms is now eligible for a test to see if they have the disease.

A total of 100,678 tests were carried out on Sunday and the aim is to hit 200,000 by the end of May.

The government's thinking is that a country-wide lockdown could be loosened if the process of testing someone with coronavirus symptoms, telling them to self-isolate if necessary and locating anyone else they may have infected can be sped up.

It is expecting to roll out an app where people self-report symptoms currently being trialled on the Isle of Wight within "weeks", Mr Raab confirmed later at the daily Downing Street briefing.

A person on the NHS coronavirus contact tracing app, which Isle of Wight residents have been getting their hands on, as the island plays the role of guinea pig to the technology which is hoped to enable at least a partial return to normal life.
Image: An app monitoring symptoms is being trialled on the Isle of Wight
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But some want the track and trace programme to begin as soon as possible, now that those who cannot do their job from home are being told to go back into work.

Schools have also been told to prepare to re-open from the start of next month.

Mr Raab refused to commit to a date, instead telling Sky News the government has been "pretty cautious" with its lockdown loosening plan and "making very sure we are taking the right steps at the right moment".

A classroom is seen, which has been rearranged with seating separated by 2m to provide an environment safe from Coronavirus for pupils and teachers at Marsden Infant and Nursery School in Marsden, near Huddersfield, northern England on May 18, 2020, ahead of the Government's proposed recommencing of education for Reception and Year 1 classes. - Marsden Infant and Nursery School is reducing class sizes to accommodate greater distancing between pupils as well as minimising any shared contact of stationery and learning materials. (Photo by OLI SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: Some pupils in schools across England could return from 1 June
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He also resisted to calls from Labour to publish the scientific advice behind Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to press ahead with strict social distancing measures being changed in the months ahead.

The devolved administrations have been more cautious in their approach to lifting restrictions than Downing Street, resulting in some differences in the guidance and rules for each nation since last week.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that her advice remains "stay home", with the there not to be eased until 28 May at the earliest.