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Jumped from 1.2m shares to 1.5m in the last few minutes. Are the shorts closing at last?
Black Cat thanks for sharing. Your post looks to end part way through a sentence. Can you please post the rest of the invitation, assuming there is more? It looks as if there was more regarding diagnostics. Thanks
Thanks for sharing.
As ever, a non-reply from government. So many questions raised by this response. Why have none of the 21 LFTs been approved? Have they been actively rejected or have the scientific advisers just not got round to looking at them yet? When do they expect to approve (or reject)?
Is there any facility for you to follow up on the response or do you have to start all over again?
You'll find it here
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2022/01/08/british-firms-must-try-harder-make-covid-tests-says-sir-john/
Lifted from BBC on line:
"Lateral flow tests are highly accurate - UKHSA
The UK Health Security Agency says while Covid cases continue to rise the vast majority of people with positive lateral flow results can be confident they have the virus.
This is because there is evidence of the "very high accuracy of LFD testing" and Covid prevalence is high which means the chances of a false positive from a positive LFD result are very low, it says
Anyone who develops one of the three main Covid-19 symptoms - a high temperature, a new continuous cough and a loss or change to the sense of taste or smell - should stay at home and self-isolate and take a PCR test.
They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test - these rules have not changed.
UKHSA Chief Executive Dr Jenny Harries says: “I’m really grateful to the public and all of our critical workers who continue to test regularly and self-isolate when necessary, along with other practical and important public health behaviours, as this is the most effective way of stopping the spread of the virus and keeping our friends, families and communities safe.”"
Really??? Chance of a false positive may be low, but what about false negatives? Or failure to pick up low levels of virus until its too late and the patient has already spread it everywhere?
As expected of the BBC it was completely hopeless. They spoke to Peto but asked the wrong question. No mention of the desktop review now well overdue. Also no suggestion that the Porton Down process is flawed in any way. See link below, item was about 15 minutes in.
What irritates me most about the BBC is they never seem to challenge anything. A question is asked and the answer just accepted. Looks like lack of research or lack of interest.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001327h
I also wrote to the editor of the Telegraph on 22 December as follows:
"Hugh Whitfield bemoans the lack of availability of lateral flow tests (letters 21 December), commenting that they are all in warehouses in China. It need not have been this way. About a year ago, the Prime Minister in a press conference said that the government was working day and night to develop the UK diagnostics industry. Subsequent actions suggest otherwise as the following three examples demonstrate.
Abingdon Healthcare is a world leading developer and manufacturer of LFTs. DHSC entered into a contract to purchase LFTs, which were supplied and used as anticipated. However, the government is currently refusing to pay for them.
Omega Diagnostics, another LFT manufacturer, was awarded funds by DHSC to ramp up production capacity, which it did. However, no contract to manufacture has been awarded and DHSC has now demanded the money back.
Finally, Avacta Group has developed what is probably the world’s most accurate LFT and has submitted details for the government’s desktop review (CTDA Regulations) in order to have approval for sale in the UK. The government indicated that the review should take no more than 20 days. Despite submission of all details in August, approval is still awaited.
Far from working to develop the UK diagnostics industry, the government seems determined to destroy it."
The letter was for publication, but has not been used.
I wonder if I helped to set the ball rolling for the Telegraph article. Here is what I sent to Henry Bodkin at the Telegraph on 24 December (with grateful acknowledgements to Myles McNulty, from whom I copied most of the text):
"Ref your article in today’s Telegraph, may I suggest it is worth investigating why the government isn’t buying UK developed and manufactured LFTs. There might then be no shortage.
In particular, I draw your attention to Avacta Group a Yorkshire based biopharmaceutical company which on Wednesday reported that what it has described as probably the world’s most accurate SARS-CoV-2 LFT has been granted not only Professional Use authorisation by the EU, but now Self Use authorisation. You will appreciate the latter is more difficult to secure. Yet the government still forbids Avacta to sell in the UK even just for Professional Use. Why?
Avacta submitted all necessary information and the fee for the desktop review under the CTDA Regulations in August. Approval was supposed to take no more than 20 days, but they are still waiting. Why?
Avacta’s best-in-class LFT can be sold not only to hospitals, airlines, and businesses throughout the EU; but now, with the CE Mark for self-use, can also be sold in retail stores and online directly to the public in Europe, but not in the UK. Why?
British innovation has created a world-beating product; the EU has given it the highest possible authorisation - home-use status (a product that anyone can buy in a shop). Yet the UK Government itself won’t even permit a healthcare professional to use the Avacta LFT on a patient.
Something has to be fundamentally wrong at the UKHSA, DHSC, NHS or in the government itself."
BBC headlines (on line) :
"Record levels of demand for Covid PCR tests have left some families waiting up to five days for their results over Christmas, the BBC has learned. Some who took a PCR in on 23 December only received results on Tuesday. They must isolate at home until they receive notification of a negative test, meaning many had to change their Christmas plans.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) apologised to those waiting "a little longer" for their PCR result. They said they were adding extra capacity to their laboratories to meet "exceptional demand" from across the UK. People should normally receive their test results within 48 hours."
If only there was an approved very accurate LFT!
Hurst - I hope its true regarding production and the broker target, but on what basis do you say this? What evidence do you have or is this just blind optimism?
My PB shares now in HL and available to trade from mid afternoon today. Still no confirmation from HL regarding the open offer allocation. Still showing what I asked for, not what has been allocated after scaling back.
The PB confirmation says "Your allocated shares are expected to be admitted for trading on the Admission Date indicated above [ie 21 December]. You should expect to receive these shares in your Hargreaves Lansdown Fund and Share account after this date".
I suspect that many who will be disappointed at being scaled back will be buying in the market. Hence SP gradually - if only slightly - rising ever since the RNS. I have.
vrmnd - I think you have misunderstood what HL have done (as I did initially). HL has shown what you asked for and set aside the funds to pay for them. The actions icons against that line of your acccount will be greyed out, so you can't trade them, etc.. We won't know the actual allocation beyond our entitlement until after the general meeting which takes place at 10.30 this morning. Look at the timetable in the RNS. It says the result of the meeting and open offer will be announced today. No time given.
Never mind Omicron; watch out for the EMacron variant heading our way from France. Causes headaches and a pain in the arse.
Should have checked the RNS before posting. I just have. We won't know the allocation (beyond our entitlement) until 20 December
I'm with HL. No formal notification yet but my account has been credited. Entitlement was 835. Asked for 3000 including entitlement. Got 3000. Has anyone been scaled back except by accident?
Looks like the MMs had had their fun. Were down by 6p after the ODX RNS but now back to where they were - bid/offer 117/120.
Just got an Email from PB. Got 90% of requested allocation (5000 reduced to 4500). Therefore assume it was oversubscribed by 10% by the time the offer closed at 9.30? Or did anyone else get different percentages?
Just had a message from Primary Bid - offer is closing at 9.30. Suggests good takeup!