Mixed messages, U-turns and ‘massaged’ figures: A timeline of the UK’s coronavirus testing system
4 years, 6 months ago

Mixed messages, U-turns and ‘massaged’ figures: A timeline of the UK’s coronavirus testing system

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. 1 May: Government accused of ‘massaging’ testing figures The government is accused of “misleading the public” over the number of people being tested for coronavirus, amid claims that ministers “massaged” figures to make it look like targets had been met. 3 June: ‘We need to get more people in the system’ Baroness Dido Harding, head of Test and Trace, tells MPs that not enough people are coming forward to book a test. “So, we need to get more people into the tracing system.” End of June: ‘Waste of time’ Reports slowly to begin emerge of contact tracers who have not made a single call, raising concern that public money is being spent on an ineffective system. NHS leaders and health experts raise concern over the “Lighthouse Lab” system for processing coronavirus tests, which was not fully functioning until late April – weeks after Britain’s Covid-19 peak.

Health Coronavirus Independent Test Tests Testing Public Hancock System Nhs Health Check Trace Mr Hancock  messages  figures  trace  timeline  testing  coronavirus  system  test  uks  day  health  tests  hancock  uturns  mixed  massaged  public

History of this topic

World-first warning system launched in UK in bid to stop future pandemics
1 month, 4 weeks ago

World-first warning system launched in UK in bid to stop future pandemics

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A world-first genetic warning system to stop future pandemics has been …

Covid making worrying comeback amid summer surge and Olympics infections, WHO official warns
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Covid making worrying comeback amid summer surge and Olympics infections, WHO official warns

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A top official said the number of people testing positive for Covid across 84 countries …

UK Covid infection rates double with one in 24 likely to test positive for coronavirus
1 year, 3 months ago

UK Covid infection rates double with one in 24 likely to test positive for coronavirus

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Covid-19 infection levels are rising, with around one in 24 …

Covid inquiry: Everything you need to know about the public hearings into the UK’s pandemic response
1 year, 9 months ago

Covid inquiry: Everything you need to know about the public hearings into the UK’s pandemic response

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK Covid-19 Inquiry opened its first public hearing on …

Covid-19 Inquiry: People encouraged to share pandemic experiences
1 year, 9 months ago

Covid-19 Inquiry: People encouraged to share pandemic experiences

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy People across the UK have been urged to share their …

‘Jewel in the crown’ Covid-19 infection survey bows out
2 years ago

‘Jewel in the crown’ Covid-19 infection survey bows out

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The long-running coronavirus infection survey, dubbed the “envy of the world” for its success …

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say
2 years, 1 month ago

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say

Dutch News  

The government’s coronavirus advisory team says mass testing at regional centres can be wound down and that the recommendation to use self tests if people have symptoms can be dropped. In its 146th set of recommendations since the pandemic began three years ago, the Outbreak Management Team says the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and its sub variants is now …

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say
2 years, 1 month ago

Coronavirus test centres can close, self-testing can stop, advisors say

Dutch News  

The government’s coronavirus advisory team says mass testing at regional centres can be wound down and that the recommendation to use self tests if people have symptoms can be dropped. In its 146th set of recommendations since the pandemic began three years ago, the Outbreak Management Team says the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and its sub variants is now …

Covid cases in UK are rising again: 1 in 35 people in England now infected
2 years, 5 months ago

Covid cases in UK are rising again: 1 in 35 people in England now infected

Hindustan Times  

Coronavirus cases are rising in the UK with infections increasing in all regions in England in the last week, except the northeast, Sky News reported quoting government experts. This marks the fourth consecutive increase in infections in England as the estimated number of people testing positive for Covid was 1,513,700, equating to 2.78 per cent of the population. "Infections have …

Covid cases surge across UK again as one in 35 people in England now has virus
2 years, 5 months ago

Covid cases surge across UK again as one in 35 people in England now has virus

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In England, the estimated number of people testing positive was …

How a fresh Covid surge in the UK could be a warning sign for US
2 years, 5 months ago

How a fresh Covid surge in the UK could be a warning sign for US

Daily Mail  

An autumn Covid resurgence in the UK has fueled concerns that the US could be on course for another wave. The US' Covid situation has mirrored Britain's several times in the past — inthe Alpha wave it followed the surge two weeks later on October 14, and in the Omicron wave it also followed about two weeks later on December …

UK ‘blind’ to new immune evasive Covid variants creating ‘perfect storm’ for devastating wave
2 years, 5 months ago

UK ‘blind’ to new immune evasive Covid variants creating ‘perfect storm’ for devastating wave

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It looks like we’re in the start of the next wave and this time it’s …

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow
2 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow

Dutch News  

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has risen for the third week in a row, and more people have been admitted to a hospital intensive care ward, public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday. Warnings On Monday, the Netherlands’ two biggest employers’ organisations made a public appeal to get people to start keeping to the basic coronavirus …

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow
2 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus infections rise 70% as fears of a new wave grow

Dutch News  

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has risen for the third week in a row, and more people have been admitted to a hospital intensive care ward, public health institute RIVM said on Tuesday. Warnings On Monday, the Netherlands’ two biggest employers’ organisations made a public appeal to get people to start keeping to the basic coronavirus …

Covid cases in England rise for first time since end of MARCH
2 years, 9 months ago

Covid cases in England rise for first time since end of MARCH

Daily Mail  

England’s Covid outbreak has risen in size for the first time since March, according to official figures that have prompted doom-mongering experts to warn the next wave is on its way. Office for National Statistics statisticians estimate 797,500 people in England had Covid each day during the week ending June 2 Separate figures today show recent fall in the number …

‘Brutal’ NHS pressures stop Covid testing
2 years, 11 months ago

‘Brutal’ NHS pressures stop Covid testing

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Overstretched hospitals are stopping routine Covid tests for new patients as …

Covid-19: NHS Adds Nine New Symptoms To The Official List In UK
2 years, 11 months ago

Covid-19: NHS Adds Nine New Symptoms To The Official List In UK

News 18  

We have been tackling the coronavirus pandemic for two years now, and every few months, with the arrival of a new variant, comes a fresh list of symptoms. Recently, the World Health Organization issued a fresh warning regarding the new Covid-19 mutant variant, XE, which was first detected in the United Kingdom on January 19 this year. And a BBC …

UK hits record COVID-19 levels; nearly 5 million infected
2 years, 11 months ago

UK hits record COVID-19 levels; nearly 5 million infected

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Free coronavirus testing ends for millions of people in England
2 years, 11 months ago

Free coronavirus testing ends for millions of people in England

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Free coronavirus testing has ended for millions of people in …

Free Covid testing ends as health chief warns pandemic to ‘remain unpredictable’
2 years, 11 months ago

Free Covid testing ends as health chief warns pandemic to ‘remain unpredictable’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Government’s “living with Covid” plan means free testing will only continue for certain …

Scientists fear U.K. is easing coronavirus testing and monitoring too soon
3 years ago

Scientists fear U.K. is easing coronavirus testing and monitoring too soon

LA Times  

A lab assistant points at charts of a sequenced coronavirus sample at the Wellcome Sanger Institute in England. Britain is now ending some testing and monitoring programs, a move some scientists fear will complicate efforts to track the virus and detect worrisome new variants. After dropping nearly all coronavirus restrictions last month, Britain is now ending some of its most …

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice
3 years ago

At long last, WHO issues coronavirus testing advice

LA Times  

A woman is tested for a coronavirus infection at the Lenasia South Hospital near Johannesburg in South Africa. The advice comes months after critics said the lack of recommendations from the global health agency was compromising efforts to stop the pandemic in poor countries. At a press briefing on Wednesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency was concerned …

Living with Covid: What did Boris Johnson announce?
3 years, 1 month ago

Living with Covid: What did Boris Johnson announce?

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Boris Johnson unveiled his “Living with Covid” strategy during a …

'Learn to live with this virus': Boris Johnson scraps Covid restrictions in UK
3 years, 1 month ago

'Learn to live with this virus': Boris Johnson scraps Covid restrictions in UK

India Today  

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said he would end all coronavirus restrictions in England including mandatory self-isolation for people with Covid-19 and free testing, drawing scepticism from some scientists and political opponents. Johnson said that the legal requirement to self-isolate for people who test positive for Covid would be removed on Feb. 24 while free universal testing would …

Boris Johnson says scrapping Covid isolation requirements is ‘moment of pride’
3 years, 1 month ago

Boris Johnson says scrapping Covid isolation requirements is ‘moment of pride’

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Boris Johnson has …

UK: People with COVID in England won’t need to self-isolate
3 years, 1 month ago

UK: People with COVID in England won’t need to self-isolate

Associated Press  

LONDON — People with COVID-19 won’t be legally required to self-isolate in England starting in the coming week, the U.K. government has announced, as part of a plan for “living with COVID” that is also likely to see testing for the coronavirus scaled back. “We’ve reached a stage where we think you can shift the balance away from state mandation, …

UK lifts all testing requirements for vaccinated travelers
3 years, 1 month ago

UK lifts all testing requirements for vaccinated travelers

Associated Press  

LONDON — Vaccinated travelers can enter Britain without taking any coronavirus tests starting Friday, after the government scrapped one of the final restrictions imposed over the past two years in response to COVID-19. Andrew Flintham, managing director of travel group Tui UK, said there was “a huge pent-up demand for international travel,” and people were rushing to book getaways for …

Sweden ends coronavirus testing along with all pandemic restrictions
3 years, 1 month ago

Sweden ends coronavirus testing along with all pandemic restrictions

LA Times  

Sweden has halted wide-scale testing for the coronavirus even among people showing COVID-19 symptoms, putting an end to the pop-up tents, drive-in swab centers and home-delivered tests that became ubiquitous during the pandemic and provided essential data for tracking its spread. Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter Medical School in England, said that with a …

UK to lift travel test requirements for the vaccinated
3 years, 2 months ago

UK to lift travel test requirements for the vaccinated

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy British Prime Minister Boris Johnson …

‘Cause for optimism’ as new Covid cases slow down, expert says
3 years, 2 months ago

‘Cause for optimism’ as new Covid cases slow down, expert says

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The recent decline in new coronavirus cases is "cause for …

As we attempt to live with Covid, a class of vulnerable people is emerging: the new excluded
3 years, 2 months ago

As we attempt to live with Covid, a class of vulnerable people is emerging: the new excluded

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Rejoice again, I tell you, for …

Covid news: UK cases and deaths drop as isolation cut to five days and departing Van-Tam praised
3 years, 2 months ago

Covid news: UK cases and deaths drop as isolation cut to five days and departing Van-Tam praised

The Independent  

✕ Close Health secretary announces Covid isolation period cut to five days from next week Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Covid UK: Britons CANCEL pre-Christmas plans as public heeds Whitty's Omicron warning
3 years, 3 months ago

Covid UK: Britons CANCEL pre-Christmas plans as public heeds Whitty's Omicron warning

Daily Mail  

Millions of Britons have axed their festive plans so they can see family on Christmas Day after Boris Johnson and Chris Whitty triggered a 'tsunamis of cancellations' for pubs and restaurants by urging the country only to socialise if necessary - and not in large groups or with strangers. And doubling down on the Prime Minister's inference that people must …

Confidence in Dutch coronavirus strategy hits all time low
3 years, 3 months ago

Confidence in Dutch coronavirus strategy hits all time low

Dutch News  

Support for the government’s strategy to deal with coronavirus is now at an all-time low, with just 16% of people positive about what ministers are doing, according to the latest survey by public health institute RIVM. Yet even though 39% were neutral about the approach and 46% negative, the pandemic rules, such as working from home and keeping your distance, …

Corona self-testing now official government advice: but are there risks?
3 years, 3 months ago

Corona self-testing now official government advice: but are there risks?

Dutch News  

The Dutch government has announced that people with mild cold symptoms can take a self-test for coronavirus, rather than being advised to get an official test immediately. Bert Niesters, professor in medical microbiology at the University of Groningen UMGG, told NOS that with very sick patients, the tests were likely to be accurate ‘but the problem is people with mild …

Corona self-testing now official government advice: but are there risks?
3 years, 3 months ago

Corona self-testing now official government advice: but are there risks?

Dutch News  

The Dutch government has announced that people with mild cold symptoms can take a self-test for coronavirus, rather than being advised to get an official test immediately. Bert Niesters, professor in medical microbiology at the University of Groningen UMGG, told NOS that with very sick patients, the tests were likely to be accurate ‘but the problem is people with mild …

UK Covid cases continue to grow: Infections increase by 20% in a week
3 years, 7 months ago

UK Covid cases continue to grow: Infections increase by 20% in a week

Daily Mail  

Britain has recorded 49 coronavirus deaths today and 32,253 new positive tests. Britain has recorded 49 coronavirus deaths today and 32,253 new positive tests The programme, which will offer tests to thousands of adults per day, aims to improve understanding and gain 'vital' data about antibody protection following Covid infection and vaccination. Mother-of-three, 31, dies of Covid after two-week battle …

UK must not take its ‘eye off the ball’ as Covid could roar back, experts warn
3 years, 7 months ago

UK must not take its ‘eye off the ball’ as Covid could roar back, experts warn

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK must not take its “eye off the ball” with …

UK Investigates New Coronavirus Variant After 16 Cases Emerge: All You Need to Know
3 years, 8 months ago

UK Investigates New Coronavirus Variant After 16 Cases Emerge: All You Need to Know

News 18  

After being discovered in a handful of other countries, including the United States, a new coronavirus variant known as B.1.621 is being investigated in the United Kingdom after 16 cases emerged, according to Public Health England. B.1.621 was categorised as a “variant under investigation” on Wednesday, prompting an inquiry, according to Public Health England. PHE said it is conducting “laboratory …

Record 618,000 people pinged by NHS Covid app in England and Wales in a week
3 years, 8 months ago

Record 618,000 people pinged by NHS Covid app in England and Wales in a week

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A record 618,903 …

The ‘pingdemic’ is another failing of the Test and Trace app – so, what went wrong?
3 years, 8 months ago

The ‘pingdemic’ is another failing of the Test and Trace app – so, what went wrong?

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Last week, over 750,000 children were …

Lateral flow Covid tests run out on day lockdown is fully lifted
3 years, 8 months ago

Lateral flow Covid tests run out on day lockdown is fully lifted

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK has seemingly run out of Covid-19 lateral flow …

Positive coronavirus tests soar to 5,475 as ministers ponder tighter rules
3 years, 8 months ago

Positive coronavirus tests soar to 5,475 as ministers ponder tighter rules

Dutch News  

The number of positive coronavirus tests soared to 5,475 in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, leaving the government considering bringing back some of the measures which were abandoned last month. Although the rise in positive tests has not yet translated into an increase in hospital admissions, ‘things are going fast’, health minister Hugo de Jonge said in an initial …

Positive coronavirus tests soar to 5,475 as ministers ponder tighter rules
3 years, 8 months ago

Positive coronavirus tests soar to 5,475 as ministers ponder tighter rules

Dutch News  

The number of positive coronavirus tests soared to 5,475 in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, leaving the government considering bringing back some of the measures which were abandoned last month. Although the rise in positive tests has not yet translated into an increase in hospital admissions, ‘things are going fast’, health minister Hugo de Jonge said in an initial …

Coronavirus tests for holidaymakers will cost €350m, ministers say
3 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus tests for holidaymakers will cost €350m, ministers say

Dutch News  

Giving free coronavirus tests to holidaymakers who have not been vaccinated or had a second dose will cost up to €350m and there are many doubts about how to put the plan into practice, health minister Hugo de Jonge and infrastructure minister Cora van Nieuwenhuizen have told MPs. One option would be to allow travel organisations to deal with the …

UK reports no new COVID-19 deaths for first time since March 2020
3 years, 9 months ago

UK reports no new COVID-19 deaths for first time since March 2020

Al Jazeera  

UK, which recorded Europe’s worst COVID death toll, celebrates milestone but fears simmer over effect of Delta variant. The United Kingdom, which has recorded Europe’s highest coronavirus death toll, has announced no new daily COVID-19 deaths for the first time since March last year. Health Secretary Matt Hancock nevertheless welcomed the announcement as “undoubtedly good news”, saying the UK’s vaccine …

UK reports zero new Covid deaths for first time since July 2020
3 years, 9 months ago

UK reports zero new Covid deaths for first time since July 2020

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK has reported no new deaths within 28 days of …

UK expert warns of 3rd Covid wave as country reports another 3,383 cases
3 years, 9 months ago

UK expert warns of 3rd Covid wave as country reports another 3,383 cases

India TV News  

UK expert warns of 3rd Covid wave as country reports another 3,383 cases Another 3,383 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,487,339, according to official figures released Monday. A British government advisory scientist warned on Monday that Britain could be in the early stages of a third …

UK lowers COVID-19 alert level from ‘rising exponentially’ to ‘general circulation’
3 years, 10 months ago

UK lowers COVID-19 alert level from ‘rising exponentially’ to ‘general circulation’

India TV News  

UK lowers COVID-19 alert level from ‘rising exponentially’ to ‘general circulation’ As Britain moves through its roadmap of easing lockdowns, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson set to confirm that more restrictions on indoor gatherings will be lifted from next Monday, the chief medical officers of all four regions of the UK agreed to a change in the alert level with …

Coronavirus UK cases map: Are infections rising in your area?
3 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus UK cases map: Are infections rising in your area?

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Some parts of the UK have seen a rise in …

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