Covid testing to be ramped up for winter
Scientists fear UK could be ‘flying blind’ on infection rates due to lack of monitoring programmes
The UK’s public health body will increase Covid testing and surveillance to ease pressure on the NHS this winter, amid fears of a surge in infections.
“Planned scaling up of testing and community surveillance for the winter season, when health pressures usually rise, is in progress,” said Professor Steven Riley, director general of data, analytics and surveillance at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Hospitalisation rates in England, while low, are rising, with experts blaming a mixture of “waning immunity”, a rise in indoor mixing and the appearance of a new Omicron subvariant, according to The BMJ (British Medical Journal).
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“UKHSA officials were keen to stress that the [testing and surveillance] programme was not in response to any new variant,” said The Times, “but designed to help the health system through the winter months.” There is currently “no widespread testing system for coronavirus or influenza apart from hospital patients”, the paper noted.
The announcement comes as schools reopen and universities prepare for the return of students, employees head back to work and indoor gatherings are set to rise, “factors that are known to increase the risk of respiratory infections, including Covid, spreading”, said The Guardian.
Last week, the UKHSA announced that England’s autumn Covid and flu vaccination programme would be brought forward to September. Scotland’s vaccination programme begins today, just days after a new variant was confirmed in the country. Scientists “do not have clear information about how rapidly [BA.2.86, the new variant] is spreading”, said BBC News.
A “prominent” Scottish GP warned that plans for Covid testing and vaccinations this winter were “a total shambles”, according to a leaked letter cited in the Daily Record this month. The deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party, Jackie Baillie, described the lack of planning for a Covid surge as “astonishing”.
Scientists warned last month that the curtailment of infection surveillance programmes had left the UK unprepared for a new wave.
“What worries me most is if we get a repeat of the last winter NHS crisis this winter again, with Covid, flu and RSV all hitting around the same time,” said Christina Pagel, a professor of operational research at University College London. “We are definitely flying near blind.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Harriet Marsden is a writer for The Week, mostly covering UK and global news and politics. Before joining the site, she was a freelance journalist for seven years, specialising in social affairs, gender equality and culture. She worked for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent, and regularly contributed articles to The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, Tortoise Media and Metro, as well as appearing on BBC Radio London, Times Radio and “Woman’s Hour”. She has a master’s in international journalism from City University, London, and was awarded the "journalist-at-large" fellowship by the Local Trust charity in 2021.
-
Magazine interactive crossword - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Hyrox: the new fitness trend taking over gyms
Why Everyone's Talking About More than 175,000 people will take part in the competition this year
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
The dangerous search for bodies in the River Thames
The Explainer Retrieving corpses is difficult due to 'massive' tidal range and fast current of deep, dark water
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How helpful are mental health apps?
Under the radar Market is booming, offering accessibility and affordability, but many apps are unregulated and share sensitive user data
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Does declining birth rate spell doom for Britain?
Today's Big Question Ageing population puts pressure on welfare state, economy and fabric of society, while fertility is rising on populist agendas
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How a new blood test could revolutionise sepsis diagnosis
The Explainer Early results from ongoing trial suggest faster identification of deadly condition is possible
By The Week Staff Published
-
Pros and cons of day-time naps
Pros and cons A snooze improves cognitive function and mood but sleep is also linked to obesity and underlying health issues
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
An increasing number of dog owners are 'vaccine hesitant' about rabies
Speed Read A new survey points to canine vaccine hesitancy
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Behind Scotland’s record high abortion figures
In Depth The most significant rise in terminations was among women in their 20s and those in deprived areas
By Sorcha Bradley Published