MEDICS WARN OF FATAL FLAW IN TRACE AND TRACK APP

 » It will fail to find half of cases  » Plus golf & angling to be allowed

- KELLY JENKINS

TOP scientists fear the coronavirus tracking app could fail to identify HALF of people infected by Covid-19.

Experts say by focusing on a cough and fever it ignores 10 other symptoms.

Getting it right is vital to coming out of lockdown – and some medics accuse the Government of ignoring advice. Dr Nick Summerton, who was consulted on the app, said: “The UK is falling behind in regards to this. If we only define the condition using two symptoms, you are identifying fewer than half who have it.

“If we don’t test, trace and track we will never get on top of the virus, it will continue to spread, more will die. We have to get these fundamentals right. It is basic public health.”

Dr Summerton spoke as the app was dubbed Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s “pet project” – and as some users trialing the scheme said it didn’t work on their phones.

Another top medic, meanwhile, said an app he had created in March had been snubbed “for political reasons” – while frontline medics reported scary symptoms far beyond a cough and fever.