Shortage of tests hurting UK effffffffffffort to fifififight 2nd wave
Hospitals in LONDON —
England say a shortage of COVID-19 tests in the U.K. is jeopardizingmedical staffffffffffffing and preparations for a potential surge in coronavirus cases this winter.
Inadequate testing is leading to increased absences in the National Health Service as medical workers are forced to self-isolate while they and their familymemberswait for test results after possible exposures, according toNHSProviders, a group that represents hospitals. Last weekend hospital leaders in three difffffffffffferent cities raised concerns about testing, said Chris Hopson, the group’s CEO.
“The problemis thatNHS trusts areworking inthedark — theydon’t knowwhy these shortages areoccurring, how long they are likely to last, how geographically widespread they are likely to be and what priority will be given to healthcare workers and their families in accessing scarce tests,” Hopson said Tuesday.
The shortage comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the U.K. that has pushed daily new infections to levels not seen since late May and has forced the Conservative government to impose new limits on public gatherings.
Widespread testing is seen as crucial to controlling the spread of coronavirus because it allows thosewho are infected to self-isolate while helping health officials to identify hot spots and trace thosewhoare infected.
The problem is that the “second wave” of the virus is hitting Britain earlier than anticipated, said John Bell, a professor of medicine at the University of Oxford.
Authorities have underestimated the speed at which more testing capacity is needed, Bell said, warning that the problem could get worse.
“I think what’s going wrong is the second wave,” Bell told the BBC. “Amonth ago, they had spare capacity in testing —signifificant spare capacity — but I think what has been underestimated was the speed at which the second wave would arrive.”
He also said new testing pressures are arising from childrenreturning to school.
Thegovernment says it can process about 243,000coronavirus tests a day, up from 220,000at theendofAugust.
Over the past week, many people have complained that they were being sent to testing centers far from theirhomes, sometimeshundreds of miles away.
Speaking to the House of Commons on Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock acknowledged that the U.K. testing system was facing “operational challenges.” He said the government is “working hard” to fifix them — though it may take weeks to resolve all of the issues. The government is increasing testing capacity, andover the past week the average distance traveled to test sites dropped to 5.8 miles from 6.4 miles, he said.
“We’ve seen a sharp rise in people coming forward for a test, including those who are not eligible,” Hancock said. “And throughout this pandemic we have prioritized testing according to need. ... The top priority is and always has been acute clinical care.”
Hancock said he wouldn’t ruleout further steps tomake sure tests are used according to those priorities. Buthe faced a litany of complaints from lawmakers of all parties, furious that their constituents were unable to get the tests they need.