The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Concern as 30,000 tests unaccounted for
Assurance given by first minister amid fears that total cases in Scotland could be significantly higher than reported
Nicola Sturgeon said she is hopeful a coronavirus testing delay that has affected 30,000 swabs will soon be resolved.
The first minister was challenged on the issue after it was revealed that one-fifth of Scotland’s Covid-19 tests were unaccounted for, raising fears that there are thousands more cases than currently reported.
At her daily coronavirus briefing Ms Sturgeon admitted the problem had “been an issue”, but said it was “well on its way” to being resolved.
The Scottish Government had earlier been urged to “get a grip” on the situation after it emerged the 30,000 swabs, taken since mid-april, are still being processed in a “data exchange” between the UK and Scottish governments.
The revelation raised suspicions that the confirmed figure of 14,117 positive tests is likely to be significantly higher.
The tests have been carried out by Scotland’s drive-through and mobile regional testing centres (RTC), run by the UK Government’s Department of Health and Social Care.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The tests coming through the Uk-wide system, which is the drive-through centres and the lab at Glasgow University, we had a slight delay in getting the results. The people being tested were getting the results but the government had a slight delay.
“We are now getting that. But there is a process of verification that has to be done to establish the positive/negative breakdown of that. Now that is being done right now. I am told this process will be complete and this will not be an issue in a matter of days.”
Ms Sturgeon added that the delay would not have an impact on easing lockdown.
Labour’s health spokeswoman Monica Lennon said the situation was “disturbing”.
“We already knew that Scotland was lagging behind badly in the time taken to turn around these tests. For test results to be unavailable after almost a month has led to under-reporting. This process is unfit for purpose,” Ms Lennon said.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “People are increasingly anxious as to whether the Scottish Government will be able to get to the capacity we need on testing and tracking.
“Every day it does not fully use the testing capacity it has available, and now we discover thousands of tests are missing. The government must explain what has happened and whether they will get up to the capacity we need for when we need it.”