With the latest spike in the confirmed cases of the COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, the nation’s testing regime has become one of the most urgent issues to work out.
A rugby stadium in London where coronavirus testing are available for people who have been referred to take a test, didn’t seem too busy at midday Tuesday, despite concerns of a backlog of tests waiting to be processed in UK laboratories.
Keir Starmer, leader of the Labor Party, blamed the government for not offering an effective testing regime and therefore, many families were forced to travel hundreds of miles for an appointment of the test.
UK authorities could draft in science students to help with coronavirus testing labs which are under pressure because of a surge in demand.
There are now lots of reports of national health service staff having to leave frontline services for self-isolation, because they or their family members cannot book a COVID-19 test.
Unless the shortage of tests is addressed, it could lead to havoc in hospitals, especially at a time when there are more virus cases.
The UK government’s testing system – part of its test, track and trace operation – is being called a testing fiasco.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised it would be “world-beating”, and his health minister confirmed in Parliament the coronavirus epidemic is increasing again.
Health officials have blamed the crisis on a staffing shortage in laboratories. Health service managers have admitted they may have to hire students to plug gaps in their staff rotas, as they face an increase in demand.
With an average 3,000 new cases per day, solving the testing issue is urgent.
Tough new limits on social gatherings came into force in the UK on Monday, banning most social gatherings of more than six people in order to curb the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the region.
The new “rule of six”, announced by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week, applies to both indoor and outdoor gatherings in England and Scotland, while in Wales, gatherings of over six people in indoor spaces are banned.
