The British government is set to test its emergency alert system for the second time, with 87 million devices set to be alerted.
It will be carried out following a recommendation from the Covid inquiry with regards to crisis preparation.
Most recently, an alert was sent out to Brits in relevant areas in the midst of Storm Darragh, advising them to stay indoors following the red warning from the Met Office.
Millions of phones will sound later this year (Leon Neal/Getty Image)
When will the emergency alerts be sent out?
A date has not yet been announced for the latest round of test alerts, though the last time every phone across the UK received a similar alert was back in April 2023, which was dubbed the ‘armageddon alert’.
Ministers have highlighted that another country-wide test, two years on, will ensure that the system is working properly.
The Cabinet Office stated that regular testing will mean that the UK remains ‘in line with other countries that test similar systems on a regular basis’.
It is expected that the message will read similar to the one from a couple of years ago.
This test will reportedly be held on several days over a number of months this autumn, with many across the UK participating.
The alerts will be carried out following a recommendation from the Covid inquiry with regards to crisis preparation (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
‘We must learn lessons from the Covid pandemic’
The MP for Wolverhampton South East, Pat McFadden, said that senior Government figures and members of the emergency services will be taking part in a pandemic preparedness exercise too, over a number of days.
It will be the first test of pandemic preparedness in almost 10 years.
He explained: “We must learn lessons from the Covid pandemic as we cannot afford to make the same mistakes again. But we will plan in a way that recognises the next crisis may not be the same as the last.”
He went on: “We agree with the inquiry that more needs to be done and are announcing measures to make sure that we are as prepared as possible for future pandemics.
“These changes will improve our resilience and preparedness and help to safeguard our citizens.”
Millions will be involved in the tests this autumn (Getty Stock Photo)
Criticism of the upcoming emergency alerts
Some members of the government have not been so supportive though, as Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said that the test would be ‘the nanny state on full display’.
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Former Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency of the UK, called it a ‘bossy intrusion’ used for ‘trivial matters’.
The chair of the UK Covid-19 inquiry, Baroness Hallett, claimed that the UK was not prepared enough to deal with another pandemic.
Hallett suggested that pandemic preparedness exercises be held every three years from now on.
Pets at Home even stated that they will issue briefings ‘a few weeks prior’ to stores, as there is concern that the sirens will ‘startle’ smaller animals.
