UK's track and trace system faces monumental challenge

Testing in the UK has dramatically expanded, but contact tracing faces big difficulties

The expansion of the testing programme may grab the headlines.

It is a significant milestone – in less than two months the UK has gone from only being able to test hospital patients and health and care staff to offering it more or less population-wide.

But it should not mask the difficulties that remain to get the test, track and trace system up-and-running.

This will be essential to contain local outbreaks as we ease ourselves out of lockdown.

Tests are still taking too long to turn around for some – significant numbers are thought to be waiting several days – while the piloting of the tracking app on the Isle of Wight is not yet finished.

One particular concern is that the app does not yet let users know if the person they have had contact with ends up testing positive. Instead, it has only let them know if the contact has developed symptoms.

That is a major problem. It means people have been left in limbo and incorporating that feature into the app will be important.

Progress is being made, but getting a workable and efficient system in place soon is still a monumental challenge.