Testing programme in chaos?

The COVID Diaries – 162 13th September

The Independent has reported today:

“The UK’s coronavirus testing programme is struggling to clear a backlog of 185,000 tests, according to leaked data from the Department of Health and Social Care.

“Swabs are being sent to laboratories in Italy and Germany because of the delays in processing – with three quarters taking longer than the government’s target of 24 hours, the documents show.

“Large numbers of tests are also being returned “void” due to problems such as “leaked samples”. On one day last week 4.3 per cent, or more than 6,570, were binned.

“The Sunday Times said the testing documents marked “Official: sensitive” revealed the government’s testing programme had been hit by “chaos” in supply chains despite boasting of a capacity of more than 350,000 tests a day.”