THE Times is reporting this morning that experts believe the test and trace app trialled on the Isle of Wight may have been a success.

The paper says experts believe there could be evidence the app was successful at picking up more cases early and eventually halting the spread of the virus on the Island.

It cautions that the figures could be influenced by the greater use of tests on the Isle of Wight, which were only made available nationally to everyone with symptoms from May 18.

How many cases?

Government data of confirmed cases of coronavirus, show at the start of the Island app trial on May 7, there had been 154 cases here.

Read more: How the app launch was reported.

After the app introduction, over the following month, with the app installed on more than 50,000 smartphones on the Island, a further 47 cases were identified — a rise of 30.5 per cent.

In England, during the same period, the number of confirmed cases only rose by 12 per cent.

But the data also reveals that the vast majority of the new infections were picked up in the first few weeks of the trial.

The Times says the data does give hope the integrated system can work to control infection rates as the lockdown begins to ease.

Read more: Minister calls Islanders pioneers with app trial.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Island MP Bob Seely told the County Press: “This is initial analysis but if true it does indicate that the app may have helped to suppress the virus on the Isle of Wight.

"In blunt terms, this is the best evidence we may get that the app saved lives of Islanders.

“I wanted the app here because, if it worked, it would help protect Islanders better — fewer Islanders would become ill and die. That may indeed have happened.

"For balance, it is important to note that it is relatively small scale, so it is difficult to categorically prove, but for one of the national newspapers to publish this from the official evaluation, is a strong indicator that the data, though limited, is powerful."

At the County Press’s request, Mr Seely confirmed this study with government statisticians, who agreed that the report was accurate.

He said experts believed the Island has given strong and valuable feedback to the NHS.

“One very possible outcome is that the app has actually done its job."

Mr Seely said: "What appears to be true is that we have a peak in cases and then a sharp drop. One explanation is that the app was surprisingly good - helping to identify cases early, resulting in earlier isolation, less reinfection and therefore a quicker drop off in cases.

“One very possible outcome is that the app has actually done its job.

“Our own testing facility to support the app also clearly helped. It was another reason why I was so keen to get the app for the Island.

"We wanted the app on the Island to keep us safe. That may appear to be the case, if so, that means that lives may have been saved as a result.

"One should be cautious, but it may show that the Island has not only provided a place to test the app effectively, but has also shown the effectiveness of the app too."

Isle of Wight County Press:

Mr Seely said: “What is for sure is that the Island has given strong and valuable feedback to NHSx on the app

“We saw a higher rise and a sharper fall. If this has been caused by the app, then that could be significant.

“We appear to be suppressing the virus well on the Island.”