Scientists cast doubts on ‘moonshot’ Covid testing
A PILOT of the “moonshot” Covid testing programme will begin next month despite Government scientific advisers warning it could be seen as “authoritarian”.
Salford and Southampton have been chosen as the proving grounds for mass testing, with separate pilots carried out at sports and leisure venues.
Although the pregnancy test-style kits on which Boris Johnson has pinned his hopes are still in development, ministers want to get over the logistical hurdles so they are ready once the technology exists.
Members of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) have been lukewarm in their response to Mr Johnson’s plan, casting doubt on whether it is feasible, and yesterday Sage published a paper warning it could fuel racial tensions and undermine public confidence.
Earlier this week, Mr Johnson said he hoped the tests would give people a “freedom pass” to return to normality if they test negative. Senior Government sources said the first pilots will begin at the end of October. They will use existing technology that will enable people to get test results in 90 or even 20 minutes before they go to work or go out to socialise.
Pilots will also be carried out at sports stadiums, and at theatres and other entertainment venues.
A senior scientist from Sage told The Daily Telegraph the group had never supported the introduction of weekly tests for the population, suggesting such schemes were better targeted at “high-risk” groups.
A paper published by Sage warned that enforcement of mass testing – and subsequent isolation – could be seen as “authoritarian” and may not be accepted by the public. The paper, by
Sage’s “multidisciplinary task and finish group on mass testing”, warns that the success of such a programme depends on trust in those running test and trace systems, and the perceived credibility of the Government.
It also warns that employers and employees may resist such programmes.
“Some employers and employees do not want to be self-isolating so are resistant to mass testing,” it notes, suggesting such issues arose in Leicester when restrictions were introduced.
The paper goes on to warn: “Mass population testing will likely reveal higher rates of infection in areas of high deprivation where many in BAME groups reside.
“This has the potential to fuel existing racial tensions.”