People will not receive further alarms and warning messages on their mobile phones today - despite it stating on the government website that would be the case. It was reported that select people in the UK would receive the message on Tuesday, April 25, as the Government carries out a second test of its new Emergency Alerts System.
Crucially, not everyone was set to receive the alert - unlike the plans announced for a couple of days ago. However, despite the official government website posting that another test would take place, the Cabinet Office has since confirmed this won't happen.
It comes after the government rolled out the initial test for the system on Sunday, April 23, with every 4G and 5G mobile phone in the UK supposed to be pinged by the loud siren and accompanying message. Some people, therefore, were left surprised that they didn't receive the message until hours after it was scheduled.
Are you planning an event for King Charles III’s Coronation? Let us know here
The official government website, gov.uk, had posted that another test of the UK's new Emergency Alerts system would take place today, Tuesday, April 25. The message said, under a header with the date of April 25, it would be a 'service test' and not everyone would receive the alert.
The message on the site read: "This is a mobile network operator test of the UK Emergency Alerts service. You do not need to take any action. To find out more, visit gov.uk/alerts."
However, the Cabinet Office has since tweeted that the alert won't be taking place on Tuesday - they said there are "no plans" to test the system again. They tweeted: "There are media reports claiming the Government is testing the #EmergencyAlerts system again today. This is completely untrue. There are no plans to test system again."
Sunday's test was supposed to send out a 10-second alarm as well as accompanying message notification to 4G and 5G consumers - but people on certain networks complained that they were left out completely.
The system in totality has been designed to alert members of the public should an emergency situation and subsequent danger to life arise locally - including, but not limited to flooding and wildfires. A Whitehall official last week also confirmed however that the system may be in future used for dangerous criminals on the loose, and other 'terrorist incidents where it might be relevant'.
Speaking before the test, Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden conceded the drill could be “annoying”, but that it had the potential to save people’s lives once rolled out. He told Sky News that the trial run was a “bit like when the fire alarm goes off at work”.
“It’s a bit irritating at the time but in the future people could be grateful for it because in a real emergency, this could be the sound that saves your life,” he told Sky News.
READ NEXT:
- Woman on 'edge of tears' as neighbour 'keeps stealing' her parking spot
- 'So happy for you': Christine McGuinness updates fans after going on 'date'
- 'I invited school mum over for cuppa - and found her frying bacon without asking'
- 'You had one job' - Bakery ruins gender reveal with 'wrong cake'
- Couple's regret after selling home and flying to Turkey for 'Instagram' surgery
