Covid App Programming Slip‑Up: 5‑Day Rule, Two‑Day Mistake
According to a whistleblower, the COVID‑19 tracking app was wired to treat contacts as being exposed for five days after a positive test. The official guidelines say a contact period should only be the two days before symptoms start (or before a positive test if no symptoms).
What Went Wrong?
- The app’s core logic accidentally built on a 5‑day window rather than the required 2‑day window.
- This meant many people could have pushed a self‑isolation earlier but were told they had to wait an extra three days.
- Consequently, tens of thousands may have been able to return to normal life sooner than the app behaved.
Who Got the Nudge?
Health Secretary Matt Hancock was told about the error just before he’d been caught in a (hugely embarrassing) affair and chose to step down.
“A submission was sent to him from Test‑and‑Trace calling out the five‑day logic, asking if it could be changed on the spot,” a Whitehall source told The Guardian.
“But the change never happened.”
Shadow Health Minister’s Take
Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders slammed the whole episode as “another shambolic situation from hapless ministers.”
“The COVID app has been a mess after another mess, and the lack of clear guidance has only blunted it,” he said, adding an undercurrent of frustration that the system is riddled with one misstep after another.
Takeaway
- Covid‑tracker devs should triple‑check duration logic—no extra days for ours! Common sense matters.
- Policy oversight needs to be real‑time, not after fallout or personal scandals.
- A quick fix could have saved a lot of people needless anxiety and unnecessary isolation.
Stay vigilant, stay informed—and keep the head counting!
