BORIS Johnson has falsely claimed in the Commons that no country in the world has a “functioning track and trace app”.
The Prime Minister made the assertion as he delivered a Covid-19 statement to MPs.
Johnson was asked by Labour leader Keir Starmer for for assurances about the NHS test and trace system as he outlined plans to ditch the two-metre social distancing rule in England.
“He mentions track and trace, and isolate, and … yes of course it’s perfectly true it would be great to have an app," the PM replied. “But no country currently has a functioning track and trace app."
READ MORE: Boris Johnson casts doubt on second wave of virus in announcement
Johnson has seemingly missed the fact that several nearby European countries, including France, Italy and Germany, have all successfully rolled out tracing apps.
Germany, for instance, released its app on June 16, reportedly recording 10 million downloads in three days.
Poland also introduced its app on June 9, while Latvia did so on May 29.
In fact countries across the world – including New Zealand, Australia, Japan, India and South Korea – have launched functioning coronavirus apps.
The UK Government's NHS tracing app was initially supposed to be rolled out in late May.
But Health Minister Lord Bethell admitted last week that the app may not be ready until winter.
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