THAT COULD SPARK VIRUS WAVE No2
and clinical director of Patientaccess. com, said: “We have to look at the most common symptoms. Among the patients I’ve seen who ended up testing positive, profound tiredness and muscle ache has been common.
“It would be worth considering adding sudden aches and pains to the list.”
Dr Jarvis is concerned about the effectiveness of test and trace in the wake of Dominic Cummings breaking lockdown to drive to Durham while having symptoms.
She said: “One of the real issues is whether people will do what they are asked if they are told they have to self-isolate.
“Matt Hancock standing up and saying it’s your civic duty when in the previous breath he had defended Dominic Cummings is hypocrisy.
“I think the trust of the British people and their ability to act on behalf of the greater good has been severely eroded in the last week.”
Prof Martin Marshall, chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a London GP for 30 years, said: “The problem is, in the early days of the pandemic a policy was devised around patients in hospitals. That’s why there was such a narrow definition around coughs and fevers.
“We have to think more broadly about the different ways in which it presents.”
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “A test, trace isolate regime is crucial to safe easing of lockdown but Boris
Johnson doesn’t seem to understand how the system is going to work.
“After a week in which he has undermined pubic health messaging by standing up for Dominic Cummings, it’s vital government explain fully how test and trace will work.”
The Department of Health said: “We have been guided by the best available evidence from world renowned scientists.
“We have successfully launched the NHS Test and Trace, to help identify and control coronavirus, reduce the spread of the virus and save lives.
“Backed by the rapid expansion of testing and 25,000 dedicated contact tracers, we are now able to offer anyone with symptoms a test, and trace the contacts of those testing positive to prevent further transmission.
“Those with symptoms and their contacts must self-isolate to protect others from the virus and allow safe and gradual lifting of lockdown.”
Voice of the Sunday People: P14