Government abandons own coronavirus contact tracing app to focus on Apple and Google technology

The British Government has abandoned the development of its own coronavirus test-and-trace app for a version based on technology provided by Apple and Google. Following days of questioning over the progress of the app, the Department of Health and Social Care announced the u-turn today. It sees the UK will following Germany, Italy and Denmark in switching to a 'decentralised' model. In a statement setting, NHS Test and Trace chief Baroness Harding and NHSX boss Matthew Gould said there had been “specific technical challenges”.