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There is still a problem with testing. A thread.
We are still seeing people being sent far away to get tested for Covid. Here's an example from this morning. Travel over 50 miles for a test. Nearest test site 2 miles away. This discourages people from being tested (and indirectly charges them for doing so). No home tests.
The Government has just changed the way that testing is displayed at http://coronavirus.data.gov.uk - here is the current version
We can still see tests per pillar, but not *capacity* per pillar, so we cannot see how overloaded commercial NHS Test and Trace is.
Also, we are unable to see how close Pillar 1 (NHS/PHE labs) are to breaching *their* capacity - that would not be good.
Also, we are unable to see how close Pillar 1 (NHS/PHE labs) are to breaching *their* capacity - that would not be good.
We would be at risk of hospital-based infection. It may not be related, but this is what happens when there is hospital infection https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-54351724
How do we know there is a problem? Here is the data from Bolton. Bottom right is 'positivity'. This is positive tests divided by total tests. It's around 12%. The WHO suggests a maximum of 5%. This is very concerning. Not enough tests are being performed.
I would like to know:
- what is and has been the backlog in the Pillar 2 labs, per day
- how many tests have been voided per day
- the median time for care home swabs to be reported from sample collection
- what is and has been the backlog in the Pillar 2 labs, per day
- how many tests have been voided per day
- the median time for care home swabs to be reported from sample collection
I would also like to know the Government's reasonable worst case scenario for deaths.
What is the Government's estimate based on its strategy?
And if it can't put a figure on this, why not?
What is the Government's estimate based on its strategy?
And if it can't put a figure on this, why not?
