Testing stats are ‘far from clear picture’

Briefing: Matt Hancock at No.10 HEALTH secretary Matt Hancock has been accused of using virus testing figures that are ‘still far from complete and comprehensible’.

UK Statistics Authority chairman Sir David Norgrove said the way numbers were presented ‘falls well short of expectations’.

He added: ‘It is not surprising that, given their inadequacy, data on testing are so widely criticised and often mistrusted.’

Sir David criticised the way statistics appear at briefings, with the total including tests posted but not conducted.

The government has hit its targets of carrying out 100,000 tests a day by the end of April with the capacity for 200,000 by the end of May.

But Sir David said the figures should be used to understand the epidemic, showing how many are infected and their backgrounds. They should also include people’s employment, age, gender and location, to create ‘maps for hotspots’. He added: ‘Good evidence, trusted by the public, is essential.’

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said Mr Hancock had ‘reiterated the department’s commitment to continuing to work closely with the UKSA to address concerns’.

Meanwhile, leaked data showed just 1,749 people in England had been contacted by the NHS test and trace system between Thursday and Sunday – despite 4,456 confirmed cases being reported, Channel 4 News revealed last night.

But the DHSC said it had contacted ‘thousands’ in ‘a matter of days’, adding: ‘These figures are outdated and fail to reflect the huge amount of work already under way.’