Labour's three-point plan to make test, track and trace work.

Couldn't agree more. At the moment I am doing my own thing to stay safe and completely ignoring the government.

The promises sound good, but we can all make promises. Would the practicalities be in place to deliver on these promises?

I wonder why you read that as them making promises Sparklefizz? They are the opposition, not in power so could not be, surely? I read it as what they were asking for to ensure the 'test, track and trace' worked. It seems like something we should be asking of the government to me.

I picked up on the words "a double lock promise".

As in, perhaps, "and we are asking for a double lock promise". What else can the opposition do?

Well, for no. 3 they'll have to deliver an app that hasn't been created by one of Dominic Cummings' mates and guarantee to delete everyone's data once it is finished with. Otherwise a great many people aren't going to download it.

And there is still the small detail that not everyone has a smartphone...

There would be a good case for the tracing to be organised by local authorities as they already have the structure in place as they trace, for e.g. outbreaks of food poisoning. Some LAs are already implementing tracing; Sheffield for example

www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2169

I haven't followed the briefings and I don't take a blind bit of notice of anyone unless they're highly trained in diseases of this nature.

I agree Maizie, but then what you are saying is that the system as it stands is not going to work, or work well enough, to protect us if we send our children back into the outside world to school or people to return to work. As both things need to happen we are being let down yet again by people, who see themselves rather as the Generals in the first world war did and allow for "collateral damage" coming not only from the "enemy" the virus, but also as in WW1, their incompetence.

When I think of the deaths in our 'front line's - the hospitals, care homes and amongst front line workers - the phrase "Lions led by donkeys" seems as relevant as it did then. And now we are conscripting children and the vulnerable to prove how big and brave the politicians are, even in the face of unpreparedness.

Did you ever trust this government enough to believe that any system they introduced was going to work, GGumpt?

As to 'conscripting children and the vulnerable' they're now bent on conscripting MPs to face the firing line. 'It's Death or Glory boys' ?

I wanted to give them the benefit of my doubt Maizie.

I admire your optimism, GGumpt ?

I would mistake it for that Maizie. It's more a case of trying not to become entrenched in my views.

Umpteenth.

I'm hearing various reports about the staff being recruited not getting the training they need. Many trying desperately to access on-line training and finding nothing. How on earth can it work?

Neither myself or Mr B has a smart phone, neither has my daughter, so there must be quite a few like myself. So it is of no interest to me.

You can ring the track and trace line (I think the number is 119) it is accessible on line via the Gov.UK website.

You do not need a smartphone.

If you are able to post on GN you are able to access the track and trace service.

As for results in 24 hours, DIL had a test yesterday morning, already has results this morning.

I found this interesting Maizie. It's about the US. My brother (who lives there) highlighted it and to say he is not a Trump fan would be a bit of an understatement. It is a good exercise in trying to be at least a little impartial.

view.e.economist.com/?qs=b6a50bdc272f5d32b7087e0292b7438c7b469c66c508e0e24437562be68836bb03c637e19f728747fd25fc26b1437b8f5f6cf494c5a932b2c3d7454d38b10ecaa1187d6e717a2c72