TORIES AREN’T TESTING
» PM admits not enough testing » But he blames public for farce » North East faces tougher rules
THE coronavirus testing system descended into even further chaos yesterday, as cases soared to the highest daily rise since May.
People were turned away from walk-in centres, where massive queues formed, thousands struggled to book a slot and checks were not available in some of the worst hit parts of the land.
Furious Labour MP Liam Byrne mocked Boris Johnson by tweeting:
“Tories aren’t testing” based on the 1979 “Labour isn’t working” advert.
The PM admitted: “We don’t have enough testing capacity.” He also warned care home deaths could rise.
But Labour’s Angela Rayner told him: “We are staring down the barrel of a second wave with no plan for the looming crisis.”
It came as the North East was braced for tougher restrictions.
BORIS Johnson yesterday continued his campaign of blaming the public as the Covid-19 testing system buckled under the pressure of Tory incompetence.
But with fears of a second deadly spike growing, more and more people want to get checked out for the disease – and the PM was accused of having “no plan” to combat the chaos.
In a day of mayhem, people were turned away from walk-in centres as huge queues formed, thousands could not even book a slot and tests were not available in some of the worst affected parts of the country.
Labour MP Liam Byrne mocked Mr Johnson by tweeting “Tories aren’t testing” – based on the infamous 1979 “Labour isn’t working” ad.
The number of UK coronavirus cases soared by almost 4,000 yesterday in the highest daily rise since the start
of May, with the PM warning deaths could also go up in care homes.
And tomorrow the North East will become the latest area to be hit with a local lockdown due to a hike in cases. Restrictions in other regions were introduced yesterday.
Speaking about the testing farce, Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner, standing in for Keir Starmer at PMQs, told Mr Johnson: “We are staring down the barrel of a second wave with no plan for the looming crisis.”
The PM admitted there were “huge problems” with the system – which not long ago he boasted would be world-beating. During a grilling by the Commons Liaison Committee, he said: “We don’t have enough testing capacity now because, in an ideal world, I would like to test absolutely everybody that wants a test immediately.”
But the PM blamed a “colossal spike” in demand for ongoing problems in accessing tests and results being delayed. And he urged people without symptoms to stay away from centres, despite many having fears they may have been in contact with an infected person. He added: “Demand has massively accelerated in the last couple of weeks.” The PM told schools struggling to cope with the “increasingly out of control” virus not to test symptomfree pupils.
He promised there would be capacity for 500,000 0 tests a day by the end of October. But with cases rising among the elderly, he added: “We must expect those infections proportionately to lead to mortality.”
Mr Johnson will announce an “action plan” this week with tougher rules on the movement of workers between care homes – six months after the pandemic began.
Ministers could bring in tough new restrictions that limit mixing at work or in social settings within weeks if the PM’s PMs “Rule Rule of Six Six” d does not flatten the curve. Mr Johnson ruled out a second nationwide lockdown – opting for localised ones – but is thought to be planning to sneak one in if there is a huge rise.
We are staring at a second wave with no plan for the crisis ANGELA RAYNER DEPUTY LABOUR LEADER
He warned of “disastrous” financial consequences bringing back nationwide restrictions would have.
One senior Whitehall source said: “Johnson is so paranoid about announcing a second national lockdown that he’ll just bring in one by the back door.” In the North East, a 10pm curfew on pubs and restaurants is likely to be introduced, among other restrictions from tomorrow night. Newcast l e , Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Gateshead, County Durham and Sunderland are likely to be included. Newcastle city council leader Nick Forbes said: “Some additional , temporary restrictions are being planned to prevent another full lockdown.” The Welsh government announced the Rhondda will be placed in lockdown. London’s public health director suggested night-time curfews on pubs and restaurants could be brought in. Across the country, pupils could be prioritised for testing to help keep schools open. National Association of Head Teachers boss Geoff Barton warned keeping classes going would become “unsustainable” if issues with testing were not fixed.
Patrick Roach of the NASUWT union, added: “We have reports schools are unable to cope with a situation that is becoming increasingly out of control.”
Jane Davis, a primary head in County Durham, said her school had been “brought to its knees by government failures” and parents were making 100-mile trips to get children tested.
People are struggling to get a test, results are taking too long to process and the target for tracing contacts is not being hit.
This shambles is all the more deplorable because it could have been avoided.
In June this year, the Government’s own scientific advisers warned the reopening of schools and getting people back to work depended on effective test and trace systems.
It is now clear ministers were asleep at the wheel and failed to prepare.
Boris Johnson has blamed the chaos on too many people applying for unnecessary tests.
This excuse does not wash when his own Health Secretary was telling people to get tested if they were “in any doubt” – and figures show there has been no drop in positive tests.
People are applying for tests because they need them, not out of idle curiosity. Lives, education and the economy are all at stake.
The PM needs to stop spreading the blame, take some responsibility and start delivering the system he promised. It doesn’t have to be world-beating, it just has to work.