Test and trace: Isle of Wight coronavirus app scrapped over Apple issues

Thanking all those who have taken part in the trial, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely told the County Press that incompatability issues with iPhone could not be overcome.

He said it had put the Island centre stage and pledged to continue to champion the Isle of Wight.

Instead, a Google/Apple design will be introduced later in the year.

“I am sad at the decision not to proceed...It was a trial. That is the whole point of a trial..."

Bob Seely MP

Scroll down for the MP's statement in full...

Last month, Islanders were urged to download the app, which was designed to stop the spread of coronavirus by pinging the phones of users who had been near those with symptoms of Covid-19.

The trial led to Health Secretary Matt Hancock's much repeated quote, "Where the Isle of Wight leads, Britain follows." 

Read more: Test and Trace: Will you be among the first Islanders to download the coronavirus app?

The plan was to trial the app on the Island and roll it out across the country, but things went quiet.

When a new symptom of cornavirus was officially recognised by the government, in mid May, Islanders were told the app would be updated to include it. The update was never sent.

Read more: New coronavirus symptom prompts trace and test app update 

“I want to thank everyone who downloaded the app and who contributed. We played our part in the test. That’s all we could do, and we did it."

Bob Seely MP

The app has put the Isle of Wight on the national stage in recent weeks. It even led to questions in the House of Lords.

Read more: VIDEO Bishop asks Lord about Isle of Wight coronavirus app trial

However, Lord Bethell later suggested that the app would come second to a people-led trace system. 

The idea of app is not being abandoned altogether. Instead, the government is switching to one run by Apple and Google and used elsewhere in Europe and it is hoped it be will available later in the year.

Earlier this month, it was reported in The Times that the Isle of Wight app may have had some success in slowing the spread of coronavirus on the Isle of Wight.

At the time, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely told the County Press: "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."

Read more: Isle of Wight Coronavirus app: 'Some evidence of success'

There was some confusion about how many people on the Isle of Wight had actually downloaded the app.

The Isle of Wight County Press was told in mid May that it was around 55,000.

Read more: So, how many Isle of Wight app downloads?: MP clarifies the stats

Statement from Bob Seely MP

Reacting to today's news, Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely said: “I am sad at the decision not to proceed with the app, but the important thing is that the Island played its role in testing the app. It was a trial. That is the whole point of a trial that we get to see if the app worked or not.

“The Island played its part well and most importantly proved its worth as a partner with central Government.

“I want to thank everyone who downloaded the app and who contributed. We played our part in the test. That’s all we could do, and we did it.

“There have been in the past year, four national trials in which the Island has had an important role. First, the use of high-tech to push forward plans for telemedicine, second the use of drones to support St Mary’s, third, the trace and test app, and fourth, support for the use of steroids to treat Covid-19. Three out of those four pilots have been successful.

“The Island played its apart well and most importantly proved its worth as a partner with central Government."

Bob Seely MP

“I understand that elements of the app have proved successful. It was good at measuring distance and Islanders like the idea of a companion app, helping to report symptoms, etc.  However, the app was very poor at picking up iPhone interactions.

“I understand that the Google/Apple app also has flaws, especially at measuring distance, but we I suspect have little choice but to work with Apple since the app will have to work on their phones.

“The Government will now work to get in place an app to support trace and test for later in the year.

“I am sure that political opponents who spend most of the waking hours attacking me will continue to do the same. I will continue to champion the Island. I am unapologetic to get the Isle of Wight at the front of the queue. I will continue to champion the Island as the right place to pilot schemes. I will do so because we need to get the Island at the front of the queue, not the back, where we have been for too long.”