Health Secretary Sajid Javid is considering an “appropriate, balanced and proportionate” approach for self-isolation when people are ‘pinged’ by the NHS app, Rishi Sunak has said.

The chancellor told Sky News he has spoken to Mr Javid about “the frustration” that people have with the test and trace system, following reports that numerous people are deleting the application ahead of the government’s planned 19 July lockdown easing date through fear of being contacted.

It comes as on Wednesday, for the first time since January, more than 32,000 coronavirus cases were recorded in the daily figures.

It is expected that the number of infections will increase further as the remaining restrictions are removed later this month.

Mr Sunak added that the health secretary is “aware” of concerns regarding how the app is working and suggested he is “looking at” possible solutions.

“I’ve spoken to the health secretary about this and he’s aware of the frustration that people have around this,” Mr Sunak told Sky News.

“We have two different systems for the test and trace: we have obviously the NHS one, and we also have the app. I know most people’s concerns rest with how the app is working and the health secretary is aware of that.

“The app counts for the majority of the people who need to isolate, I understand, on the numbers and he’s looking at what the most appropriate, balanced and proportionate approach to isolation is in these circumstances.”

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