Testing labs must step up

Nicola Sturgeon has said testing capacity in labs must also match capacity of the number of tests available to people if Scotland is to keep up with high demand.

Over the weekend people in Scotland were reportedly again told that testing was not available in their local area and were being asked to travel miles to access tests.

The number of tests undertaken in Scotland on Sunday was just over 12,000, a steep drop from the average levels of around 20,000 for the last few weeks and down from 27,000 on Wednesday 2 September.

Monica Lennon, the Scottish Labour health and social care spokesperson, said the Scottish Government must explain the drop in testing and called on the health secretary to reassure the public.

She said:“test and Protect is Scotland’s plan for preventing the spread of the virus and the health secretary herself has said that hunting down Covid-19 via testing is key to its success.

“Worryingly, members of the public have had serious challenges accessing testing and this huge drop in the numbers of tests carried out, at a time when confirmed cases are increasing, will shake public confidence.

“Everyone who needs a test should get one promptly. The health secretary must reassure the public that Test and Protect is properly resourced, effective and reliable.”

Speaking at her daily coronavirus briefing, the First Minister said she was not complacent about capacity issues around testing but insisted Scotland was testing higher number of people when compared to other parts of the UK and said testing numbers had returned to around the average of 20,000 per day.

Ms Sturgeon said: “You will see test numbers fluctuate day by day, because it is demand led.”