The main public health technique for controlling epidemics returns to England tomorrow with the start of the NHS Test and Trace service. ..... Anyone with corona virus symptoms will be asked to self-idolate and book a test. If the test delivers a negative result, the self-isolation ceases but if it is positive the service will contact them and try to work out all their contacts - people who have been within 2 metres of them for more than 15 minutes in the last few days. These contacts will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days or 7 days after they develop symptoms, whichever is shorter.

The Independent SAGE commission, chaired by former Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, has issued a report on the integrated Find, Test, Trace, Isolate and Support system that is necessary to control the Covid-19 epidemic as the crude lockdown is eased.

The Government has announced 300 million funding for local authorities to take a central role in the national test, track and isolate programme. ..... Pro-rata funding for Reading would be 870,000.

Health Service Journal reports today that the Department of Health and Social Care's PPE Portal is so far reaching only a tiny proportion of its intended users. ..... After starting development on March 27th the site went live in a pilot service to 1000 users in Devon and Cornwall on 27th April. There are now 1400 out of the intended 58,000 users able to make use of the site.

 CEO Steve McManus has explained that the Royal Berkshire Hospital has created separate areas for suspected coronavirus patients and all others ......