THE much vaunted contact tracing app being tested on the Isle of Wight may be useful for the number crunchers and researchers, but given it’s a reactionary rather than proactive measure it’s hard to see how it will allay fears of catching the virus at ground level.

It’s a bit late telling someone after the event that they have been in contact with a person who has Covid-19 and then being tagged as they themselves may be infected.

What’s needed is a precautionary approach alerting people before they get in the vicinity of someone who has tested positive for the virus to keep their distance.

Of course this will be time dependent so after the person is clear then they no longer pose a risk and the system should reflect this by clearing down the markers.

Nothing so far has been forthcoming to work on a virus-avoidance basis.

Unless the tactic here is the great herd immunity which has at its heart the intention of everyone catching the virus.

Dave Degen, Whippendell Road, Watford