'Completely wrong': Boris Johnson's plans for mass coronavirus testing may not work, government's top scientific adviser warns
4 years, 6 months ago

'Completely wrong': Boris Johnson's plans for mass coronavirus testing may not work, government's top scientific adviser warns

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government’s top scientific adviser has poured cold water on ministers’ ambitions to develop mass coronavirus testing programme to reach up to 4 million people within months. But chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said it would be “completely wrong” to assume that the rapid turn-around tests touted by the prime minister as a panacea for resolving the Covid crisis would even work. Speaking just moments after Mr Johnson said the Moon Shot project could produce a test to tell people within 15 minutes whether they are infected, Vallance cautioned: “There are, as always with technologies, unknowns and we would be completely wrong to assume this is a slam dunk that can definitely happen.” Leaked documents, whose contents were reported by The British Medical Journal and The Guardian, suggested the cost of the programme could soar to a massive £100bn. “Through that moon shot of daily testing – everybody gets a pregnancy-style test, a rapid turn-around test in the morning, 15 minutes later you know whether you are infectious of not,” he said.

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History of this topic

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ‘bamboozled’ by science, COVID-19 inquiry told
1 year, 4 months ago

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson ‘bamboozled’ by science, COVID-19 inquiry told

Associated Press  

LONDON — Boris Johnson, the former British prime minister, struggled to come to grips with much of the science during the coronavirus pandemic, his chief scientific adviser said Monday. He and the chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, regularly flanked Johnson at the daily COVID-19 press briefings given from the prime minister’s offices on Downing Street. The inquiry is set to …

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 …

Minister won't guarantee no lockdowns if new coronavirus variant hits
2 years, 9 months ago

Minister won't guarantee no lockdowns if new coronavirus variant hits

Dutch News  

Dutch health minister Ernst Kuipers has said he cannot guarantee that a new lockdown will not be imposed in the Netherlands because of the risk that a new, more infectious and problematic variant of coronavirus will hit. Vaccinations The minister also told MPs on Thursday that he is not concerned about regional health board capacity to carry out a new …

Minister won't guarantee no lockdowns if new coronavirus variant hits
2 years, 9 months ago

Minister won't guarantee no lockdowns if new coronavirus variant hits

Dutch News  

Dutch health minister Ernst Kuipers has said he cannot guarantee that a new lockdown will not be imposed in the Netherlands because of the risk that a new, more infectious and problematic variant of coronavirus will hit. Vaccinations The minister also told MPs on Thursday that he is not concerned about regional health board capacity to carry out a new …

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 …

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 …

England scraps self-isolation rule for Covid positive people
3 years, 1 month ago

England scraps self-isolation rule for Covid positive people

India Today  

From February 24, the people of England are under no legal obligation to isolate if tested positive for coronavirus. Laying out his 'Living with Covid' strategy at a press conference on Tuesday, UK PM Boris Johnson said, "Today is not the day we can declare victory over Covid because this virus is not going away." Exercising restraint, England's chief medical …

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 …

Covid: Lateral flow tests already being rationed as government winds down free scheme
3 years, 1 month ago

Covid: Lateral flow tests already being rationed as government winds down free scheme

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 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 }} The government …

Lateral flow tests are being rationed ALREADY
3 years, 1 month ago

Lateral flow tests are being rationed ALREADY

Daily Mail  

The Government has started secretly rationing free Coronavirus home testing kits amid fears of a rush ahead of them being phased out. ‹ Slide me › Before and after: The rules used to allow a test every 24 hours but it is now every 72 hours People worried about the availability of tests in the future have started stockpiling them …

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 …

Free lateral flow tests 'will be axed'
3 years, 1 month ago

Free lateral flow tests 'will be axed'

Daily Mail  

Free lateral flow tests are set to be scrapped in England from next month under the Government's plan to learn to live with Covid, it was claimed today. Pictured: People queue at at Covid testing site in London Free Covid lateral flow tests will be scrapped under new plans being drafted by ministers. Last month Professor Iain Buchan, chair in …

England looks to fast-track plans to scrap self-isolation after positive COVID-19 test
3 years, 1 month ago

England looks to fast-track plans to scrap self-isolation after positive COVID-19 test

ABC  

England could scrap self-isolation for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 at the end of the month. Key points: England is set to end self-isolation periods for those who test positive for COVID-19 by the end of February PM Boris Johnson said the plan was brought forward as part of the strategy of "living with COVID" Mr Johnson is …

People who “cheat” lateral flow tests will put others at risk, says expert
3 years, 2 months ago

People who “cheat” lateral flow tests will put others at risk, says expert

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 It is important that people are “scrupulously honest” about lateral …

Covid: Lateral flow tests unavailable again despite Boris Johnson denying shortage
3 years, 3 months ago

Covid: Lateral flow tests unavailable again despite Boris Johnson denying shortage

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. People trying to get a test on Tuesday morning were told that “there are …

Covid-19 UK: Top Government adviser hints No10 could drop mass testing from January
3 years, 4 months ago

Covid-19 UK: Top Government adviser hints No10 could drop mass testing from January

Daily Mail  

Britain's mass coronavirus testing programme could be abandoned in the new year, one of the Government's experts hinted today. Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care, said the Government was committed to mass testing — including of schoolchildren — until at least January but is considering dropping the programme after that. But Sir …

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 …

Health Min.: People back from vacation need to get tested for coronavirus; CoronaCheck bug fixed
3 years, 8 months ago

Health Min.: People back from vacation need to get tested for coronavirus; CoronaCheck bug fixed

NL Times  

Dutch Health Minister Hugo De Jonge has once again called on residents returning from a holiday to get tested for the coronavirus infection. Additionally, he said that a critical flaw was fixed in the CoronaCheck app which prevented many people who recovered from an infection from obtaining their certificate stating they were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 To make testing more …

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 …

Ministers have not yet decided about further relaxing coronavirus rules
3 years, 10 months ago

Ministers have not yet decided about further relaxing coronavirus rules

Dutch News  

Ministers have not yet reached a decision about whether the coronavirus rules can be relaxed again from May 15, following weekend talks with health experts. ‘The minister understands that the travel restrictions can hit people hard, and that is why we are looking to see what more can be done,’ a health ministry spokesman told DutchNews.nl. Events Meanwhile, the FieldLab …

Britain eyes mass coronavirus testing as it takes next steps out of lockdown
3 years, 11 months ago

Britain eyes mass coronavirus testing as it takes next steps out of lockdown

LA Times  

People jog past the National COVID Memorial Wall on the south bank of the Thames opposite the House of Parliament in London on Sunday. All adults and children in England will be able to have routine coronavirus tests twice a week as a way to stamp out new outbreaks, the British government said Monday, as it prepared to announce the …

Start preparing for next pandemic now, experts warn Boris Johnson
4 years ago

Start preparing for next pandemic now, experts warn Boris Johnson

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. “You pay the consequences.” Sir Mark said: “Not much funding has been moved into local …

Dutch cabinet advised to get tested for Covid
4 years ago

Dutch cabinet advised to get tested for Covid

NL Times  

The members of the departing Dutch cabinet were advised to get tested for the coronavirus after State Secretary Mona Keijzer of Economic Affairs tested positive for Covid-19, Minister Hugo de Jonge of Public Health said on Monday. Keijzer attended the weekly Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, but she was not at the coronavirus meeting at Prime Minister Mark Rutte's …

Boris Johnson contradicts education minister on back-to-school Covid testing
4 years ago

Boris Johnson contradicts education minister on back-to-school Covid testing

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Downing Street has contradicted an education minister by saying that children …

Coronavirus self test kits could be in the shops next month, says health minister
4 years ago

Coronavirus self test kits could be in the shops next month, says health minister

Dutch News  

Fast coronavirus tests which don’t require medical supervision could be available in supermarkets and pharmacies by next month, health minister Hugo de Jonge said on Friday. Fast tests, which people can take themselves, could be used by employers, and at schools and universities to making working conditions safer, De Jonge is quoted as saying by broadcaster NOS. ‘That is why …

The threat of a third coronavirus wave has forced Boris Johnson to learn from his mistakes
4 years, 1 month ago

The threat of a third coronavirus wave has forced Boris Johnson to learn from his mistakes

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. Prime minister Boris Johnson may have finally learned his lesson after the headlong rush into …

Gov't to use proof of Covid test results to accelerate lockdown relaxation: Report
4 years, 1 month ago

Gov't to use proof of Covid test results to accelerate lockdown relaxation: Report

NL Times  

The Ministry of Public Health is working on a coronavirus test certificate to accelerate the relaxation of lockdown measures. The idea is that people who can prove they recently tested negative for the virus, can be given more freedom to go back to the office or visit a restaurant or theater, for example, chairman Ingrid Thijssen of employers' organization VNO-NCW …

Nightclubs and theatres could reopen with help of rapid Covid tests, Boris Johnson says
4 years, 1 month ago

Nightclubs and theatres could reopen with help of rapid Covid tests, Boris Johnson says

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rapid-turnaround coronavirus tests could be used to allow the reopening of …

Medics call for caution as MPs step up pressure on Boris Johnson to accelerate end of lockdown
4 years, 1 month ago

Medics call for caution as MPs step up pressure on Boris Johnson to accelerate end of lockdown

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Back-of-the-envelope calculations that I did based on 2 million doses a week, you could get …

Scotland unable to fight Covid-19 as effectively without England, Boris Johnson to claim on visit
4 years, 1 month ago

Scotland unable to fight Covid-19 as effectively without England, Boris Johnson to claim on visit

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy …

Rapid lateral flow Covid tests No10 is using are too inaccurate, scientist warns
4 years, 2 months ago

Rapid lateral flow Covid tests No10 is using are too inaccurate, scientist warns

Daily Mail  

Professor Jon Deeks, a biostatistician from the University of Birmingham, accused the Government of making lateral flow tests seem 'better than they are' Boris Johnson's extortionate Operation Moonshot mass-swabbing scheme could accelerate Covid's spread because the tests are so inaccurate, a top expert has warned. They are: SD Biosensor Standard Q Antigen Test Manufacturer: SD Biosensor When tested: August Claimed …

Government rolls out rapid Covid testing programme despite controversy and criticism
4 years, 2 months ago

Government rolls out rapid Covid testing programme despite controversy and criticism

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. However, government analysis from Liverpool’s mass testing programme revealed last month that the devices missed …

Johnson under fire as UK again faces onslaught of COVID-19
4 years, 2 months ago

Johnson under fire as UK again faces onslaught of COVID-19

Associated Press  

LONDON — The crisis facing Britain this winter is depressingly familiar: Stay-at-home orders and empty streets. Britain locked down on March 23, and Costello said if the decision had come a week or two sooner, “we would be back down at 30,000-40,000 deaths.. More like Germany.” “And the problem is, they’ve repeated these delays,” said Costello, a member of Independent …

Coronavirus: Lockdown rules are too lax, government scientific advisors warn
4 years, 2 months ago

Coronavirus: Lockdown rules are too lax, government scientific advisors warn

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Government scientific advisors have urged Boris Johnson to strengthen lockdown measures …

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson ‘reconciled’ to tougher Covid-19 restrictions as cases soar
4 years, 2 months ago

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson ‘reconciled’ to tougher Covid-19 restrictions as cases soar

CNN  

London CNN — Coronavirus restrictions in England are “alas probably about to get tougher,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Sunday, as the country battles to rein in a deadly surge in coronavirus infections. “It may be that we need to do things in the next few weeks that will be tougher in many parts of the country, I’m fully …

Scientists defend use of rapid lateral flow Covid test as government steps up UK rollout
4 years, 3 months ago

Scientists defend use of rapid lateral flow Covid test as government steps up UK rollout

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. Health officials have also brought forward plans for care home staff to receive bi-weekly tests …

UK scientists probe new coronavirus variant’s spread in children
4 years, 3 months ago

UK scientists probe new coronavirus variant’s spread in children

Live Mint  

Scientists in the UK are investigating the impact of a new mutant variant of coronavirus, named VUI-202012/01, on children and whether its faster transmission in parts of England is down to the younger segment of the population. The government's New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group is monitoring the data to analyse this arc of the variant, which has …

Coronavirus: Concerns over lateral flow tests destined for schools after ‘poor performance’ at a university
4 years, 3 months ago

Coronavirus: Concerns over lateral flow tests destined for schools after ‘poor performance’ at a university

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. Read our privacy policy A professor …

Don’t let Boris Johnson and his dysfunctional government grind you down – here’s why
4 years, 3 months ago

Don’t let Boris Johnson and his dysfunctional government grind you down – here’s why

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. A non-comprehensive list would include: going …

Will the US ever have a national Covid-19 testing strategy?
4 years, 3 months ago

Will the US ever have a national Covid-19 testing strategy?

Hindustan Times  

As the coronavirus epidemic worsens, US health experts hope Joe Biden’s administration will put in place something Donald Trump’s has not — a comprehensive national testing strategy. “If we’d had a more robust approach and testing was scaled up as one of the tools, I think much of this third surge would would have been avoidable,” said Dr. Grant Colfax, …

Will the US ever have a national COVID-19 testing strategy?
4 years, 3 months ago

Will the US ever have a national COVID-19 testing strategy?

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — As the coronavirus epidemic worsens, U.S. health experts hope Joe Biden’s administration will put in place something Donald Trump’s has not — a comprehensive national testing strategy. “If we’d had a more robust approach and testing was scaled up as one of the tools, I think much of this third surge would have been avoidable,” said Dr. …

Coronavirus: Negative result in rapid test is not green light to abandon social distancing, top medic warns
4 years, 3 months ago

Coronavirus: Negative result in rapid test is not green light to abandon social distancing, top medic warns

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Lateral flow tests are being deployed to enable students to return home for Christmas and …

‘Not fit for purpose’: Rapid Covid tests used across UK ‘failing to detect half of all cases’
4 years, 3 months ago

‘Not fit for purpose’: Rapid Covid tests used across UK ‘failing to detect half of all cases’

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. The tests are also being utilised under the government’s “test and release” strategy, enabling people …

Trump adviser who was with Rudy Giuliani at press conference tests positive for coronavirus
4 years, 4 months ago

Trump adviser who was with Rudy Giuliani at press conference tests positive for coronavirus

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US 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 tests negative for coronavirus but will continue to self-isolate
4 years, 4 months ago

Boris Johnson tests negative for coronavirus but will continue to self-isolate

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy …

Rapid Covid testing to be rolled out to cities including London, Manchester and Birmingham
4 years, 4 months ago

Rapid Covid testing to be rolled out to cities including London, Manchester and Birmingham

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Mass coronavirus testing of the kind trialled in Liverpool over recent …

Coronavirus: Rapid test ‘missed over 50% of positive cases in pilot’
4 years, 4 months ago

Coronavirus: Rapid test ‘missed over 50% of positive cases in pilot’

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. Scientists said the rapid test – a key part of Boris Johnson’s Operation Moonshot mass …

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