TESTING TIMES FOR PCR
Yousaf says Scots have to wait for slots after surge in cases puts system under significant pressure
SCOTLAND’S Health Secretary has admitted people may have to “wait a little bit longer” for PCR testing as Omicron puts the system under “significant pressure”.
With a new high of 16,875 Covid cases reported yesterday, Humza Yousaf warned the testing system does “not have an infinite capacity”.
Few slots for PCR tests were available in Scotland for those who tried to book on Wednesday and some have been prioritised for NHS, public transport or other essential workers.
Yousaf rejected the suggestion that the system is “on the brink”.
But he told BBC Radio Scotland’s GMS programme: “The testing regime is undoubtedly under significant, significant pressure – that is why we have had to prioritise essential workers.
“We don’t have an infinite capacity when it comes to testing so, when we reach that capacity, it is important we prioritise those essential workers.
“So, yes, you may have to wait a little bit longer than you normally would pre-Omicron for a test, but please keep trying because new slots become available on the website throughout the day.”
Yousaf added: “I think everybody would recognise we have one of the best testing regimes in the entire world.”
Meanwhile, the UK Government was scrambling to secure supplies of lateral flow device (LFD) tests to meet demand as people try to comply with official guidance.
In a letter to MPs, UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the supply of LFDs was being tripled in January and February from a pre-Omicron plan of 100million to 300million per month.
“To respond to anticipated demand over the coming few weeks we are buying hundreds of millions more LFD tests, bringing new products on board and accelerating their deployment to the public,” he said.
But “in light of the huge demand for LFDs seen over the last three weeks, we expect to need to constrain the system at certain points over the next two weeks to manage supply over the course of each day, with new tranches of supply released regularly throughout each day”.
By 9am yesterday, home delivery slots for lateral flow tests were unavailable on the Gov.UK website.
Pharmacies have also complained about patchy supplies of LFD kits.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people heading out for New Year’s Eve festivities tonight to get tested.
Nicola Sturgeon has kept restrictions in place in Scotland which limit standing in pubs, ban mass gatherings and close nightclubs.
A leading scientist warned it is “very worrying” that a shortage of tests could lead to people mixing over the New Year without checking whether they are infectious.
Professor Peter Openshaw, who sits on the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group, said the conditions at a Hogmanay gathering were “perfect” for spreading coronavirus.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We do know that crowding together in poorly ventilated spaces, particularly if you are shouting over loud music and so on, is absolutely perfect in terms of transmitting this very, very highly transmissible virus.”
SCOTTISH revellers were arriving in England yesterday to celebrate Hogmanay in defiance of Nicola Sturgeon. Scotland’s First Minister has shut nightclubs, banned large groups from going out drinking and placed restrictions on pubs. But there are no similar rules south of the Border. Yesterday, she warned: “The likelihood of getting it just now if you mix with others is high. Sheer volume will put acute pressure on the NHS and result in serious illness for many. “As we approach New Year, I am appealing to everyone to keep following advice for your own sake and to help the NHS.” As she spoke, groups of Scots were already arriving in England, while Welsh partygoers were heading for the clubs and bars of Bristol, Chester, Manchester and Liverpool.
At Newcastle Central Station, Sarah Hall, 23, who had travelled from Dunbar in East Lothian, said: “We are here for two days – it’s a good night out and the people are nicer.
“We don’t have any plans at the moment, we’re just going to see where we end up. I do find it ridiculous that we can’t go out at home, but we can in Newcastle.
“We’ve been jabbed and we’ve been boosted. We still can’t live our lives despite that and we’re being penalised for it.”
Factory worker Taylor Houston, 18, had travelled from Dundee with friends.
He said: “This is my first time in Newcastle and I want to make this year enjoyable.
“We would normally be out locally and that’s what we would have done if allowed, but it wouldn’t have been much fun with the restrictions in place.
“I think it’s wrong that the restrictions are different in Scotland, but that’s Nicola Sturgeon for you.”
UK Hospitality Scotland’s Leon Thompson claimed Covid rules were “absolutely hammering” businesses with “very little to celebrate here in Scotland”.
Greg Mulholland, of the Campaign for Pubs, warned up to 100,000 revellers could travel into England, based on feedback from their members.