Published yesterday25 Mar 2021 09:00
"However, since the stark warning in the BMJ, the government has pushed back to vouch for the tests' usefulness. On March 10, it published post-marketing surveillance of the tests in use, reporting a remarkably high specificity of 99.9 percent.
More broadly, the tests have been embraced by the British government, which has stipulated that any household containing someone either attending or working at a school, college or nursery may order up to seven tests each day. A scheme for large businesses is already underway, with reports that smaller businesses may soon follow suit.
Meanwhile, the Times has reported that all adults will be encouraged to test themselves for coronavirus twice a week to help move the country out of lockdown.
There are no plans to slow down rapid testing, with the government awarding two new contracts for up to 200 million lateral flow tests on March 15. Another contract worth over £152 million was awarded to Innova in October, with the award being published on March 23.
“Rapid lateral flow tests are essential to help us identify cases of the virus we otherwise wouldn’t find, [thereby] preventing the virus spreading in our workplaces and communities,” said Health Secretary Matt Han**** when announcing the new contracts. “These tests will help keep businesses open, our children return to school, people to visit their loved ones in care homes safely.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-rapid-coronavirus-community-test/