Skip to main content

Test and Trace ‘even worse than we think’: Experts say missing data means infections could be higher

NewsColony
Test and Trace ‘even worse than we think’: Experts say missing data means infections could be higher

Britain’s test and trace system is ‘getting worse’ and struggling to cope with the resurgence of coronavirus, according to experts.

Gaps in the data make it impossible to know whether official restrictions are reducing the spread of infection, say the researchers.

Scientists led by University College London say the gaps are starkly illustrated by their new ‘data dashboard’ Covid Red, which is designed to bring together all available virus information.

Professor Christina Pagel, a co-developer, said: ‘We don’t know what percentage of people with symptoms are actually isolating for the full length of time or their contacts.’

Scientists led by University College London say Britain's test and trace system is struggling to cope with the resurgence of coronavirus. Pictured: NHS England's Test and Trace app

Scientists led by University College London say Britain's test and trace system is struggling to cope with the resurgence of coronavirus. Pictured: NHS England's Test and Trace app

Scientists led by University College London say Britain’s test and trace system is struggling to cope with the resurgence of coronavirus. Pictured: NHS England’s Test and Trace app

She added: ‘If people are not isolating then it’s just window dressing. We would like that to be collected and reported weekly. It is such an important thing.’

Researchers also found that some of the best available data was up to two weeks old. 

They urged health authorities to prioritise real-time information to ‘inform and support the necessary responses, including regional or local lockdowns’.

Covid Red – full name the Covid Response Evaluation Dashboard – has been designed for use by both officials and the public. 

It collates and presents data from the Office of National Statistics, Public Health England and the NHS under five categories: Find, test, track, isolate and support for those asked to isolate.

A new 'data dashboard' has shown a rising number of people test and trace has failed to find within 24 hours, as well as a rising number only traced after 72 hours which is 'too late' to stop infection spread, Professor Christina Pagel from University College London said. Pictured: A worker advises a woman attending a drive-in test facility

A new 'data dashboard' has shown a rising number of people test and trace has failed to find within 24 hours, as well as a rising number only traced after 72 hours which is 'too late' to stop infection spread, Professor Christina Pagel from University College London said. Pictured: A worker advises a woman attending a drive-in test facility

A new ‘data dashboard’ has shown a rising number of people test and trace has failed to find within 24 hours, as well as a rising number only traced after 72 hours which is ‘too late’ to stop infection spread, Professor Christina Pagel from University College London said. Pictured: A worker advises a woman attending a drive-in test facility

It shows a rising number of people that test and trace fails to find within 24 hours, along with a rising number only traced after 72 hours, which Professor Pagel said was ‘too late’ to stop infection spread.

Getting contacts of new cases to isolate was vital to ‘break the chain of transmission’, she added. Numbers missed had hugely increased since September, showing the ‘system starting to get overloaded’.

Co-developer Professor Deenan Pillay said coronavirus case numbers were now doubling every two weeks and real-time data was essential to monitor ‘hotspots’ of infection going into winter.

He added: ‘We will depend on test and trace in the long term for ensuring we capture infections, we don’t continue to have to go into more and more lockdowns.’

Source: Daily Mail |World News

The post Test and Trace ‘even worse than we think’: Experts say missing data means infections could be higher appeared first on NewsColony.
NewsColony



source https://newscolony.com/test-and-trace-even-worse-than-we-think-experts-say-missing-data-means-infections-could-be-higher/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Volunteers book hotel room for homeless man with SingapoRediscovers vouchers

NewsColony Volunteers book hotel room for homeless man with SingapoRediscovers vouchers © The Independent Singapore Singapore — A group of volunteers from the Mummy Yummy Singapore welfare organisation donated their SingapoRediscovers Vouchers to book a hotel room for a homeless man. The man, who was identified as Jayden, did not have a place to live while waiting for the Housing Board (HDB) to allocate him a rental flat. In a Facebook post on Mummy Yummy Singapore’s page on Wednesday (Dec 16), the volunteers said: “We used our $100 Rediscover Singapore vouchers to redeem hotel stay for him and successfully booked 9 days worth of stay at 3 days per voucher.” They added that they were unable to book a longer stay because of higher hotel rates over Christmas and New Year. The volunteers hoped that they would be able to bridge Jayden’s stay until he got a flat. “Thanks our government for giving us these vouchers which in return we can put them to good use for people in need,” th...
Post a Comment
Read more

17 gifts from Oprah’s Favorite Things you can get by Christmas

NewsColony 17 gifts from Oprah’s Favorite Things you can get by Christmas (CNN) —   Oprah Winfrey has pretty impeccable taste, and this year, she’s gifted us once again with her Favorite Things list, available to shop via Amazon . We’ve gone through and pulled out some of our own favorite picks from the list, which features products for everyone on your holiday gift list at a range of prices. And while, obviously, it’s Oprah, so everything included is great, we especially love her picks from Black- and female-owned small businesses. Check out our top gift picks below, and browse all of Oprah’s Favorite Things on Amazon. Iconi Women’s Seamless High-Waisted Leggings ($45; amazon.com ) Iconi Women’s Seamless High-Waisted Leggings PHOTO: Amazon These comfortable leggings are designed to be everything you’ve always wanted in a pair: moisture-wicking, supportive and squatproof. Plus, they come in a ton of pretty heathered colors. “A Kids Book About…” ($15.96; amazon.c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Disabled people are still vulnerable, even as COVID-19 normalizes their ‘special’ needs

Disabled people are still vulnerable, even as COVID-19 normalizes their ‘special’ needs NewsColony Perhaps it’s appropriate that public notices of the COVID-19 crisis began as an ableist cruelty. Health officials assured the nation that only the elderly and those with chronic health conditions would be seriously affected; most Americans (i.e., the normal people) would have only mild symptoms and be fine. x A friendly reminder: people who will be high-risk patients if we get coronavirus can hear you when you reassure everyone we’re the only ones who might die. — Alexandra Brodsky (@azbrodsky) February 29, 2020 Soon after the announcement of those assurances, the likelihood of high-risk people surviving was further limited by the people more likely to be fine. Shopping frenzies cleared stores of essential supplies needed everyday by many disabled people, like thermometers, hand wipes, masks, and IV infusion supplies. Accustomed to their needs ...
Post a Comment
Read more