29.03.2024

False negative test results given at government-run PCR site

The local authority “strongly” encouraged that anyone who took a PCR test between 3 – 12 October and received a negative result, should retest in addition to their close contacts.

Members of the public have been urged to rebook coronavirus tests after West Berkshire council announced that PCR tests at its Newbury Showground testing site incorrectly provided negative results to some people.

In a statement, West Berkshire Council said reports were received from local residents voicing concerns about the accuracy of the tests from the government run site.

“We passed these concerns onto the Department for Health and Social Care for further investigation. The DHSC has now confirmed that a number of sites nationally may have been affected by this issue, including the one at Newbury Showground,” the statement said.

It’s unclear how many sites across the UK are affected by the issue but the Department for Health and Social Care has confirmed an investigation is underway.

Councillor Graham Bridgman, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing joined in urging residents to rebook PCR tests to prevent the spread of coronavirus across the district.

“Testing continues to remain important as we learn to live with Covid and anyone who has symptoms, or who has been in contact with someone who tests positive, should book a PCR test straightaway. We also strongly encourage the public to do twice weekly lateral flow testing,” councillor Bridgman said.

It comes as fully vaccinated people arriving in England from countries not on the red list have been told they can take a cheaper and quicker lateral flow test rather than the PCR version from October 24.

Gov. Jared Polis Describes Increase In COVID Patients Hospitalized In Colorado

Gov. Jared Polis is using some strong language to describe the increase in the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Colorado. Across the state, there are 964 patients in hospitals, down slightly from Tuesday.

That’s a level not seen since early January.

A doctor from Children’s Hospital Colorado also discussed the Delta variant’s impact on children who continue to account for the most new cases of COVID-19 in the state.

“The highly contagious Delta variant has changed the calculus for risk to children considerably,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary with Children’s Hospital. “It’s so contagious that in the next several months for unvaccinated persons, the question is not if they will get infected, but when.”

“We get vaccinated to protect ourselves and our loved ones, to end the pandemic, and because of the efforts of healthcare workers who have been going above and beyond. The vast majority of people hospitalized and contracting this deadly virus are unvaccinated,” said Polis. “Please get your vaccine if you have not already. Get the booster when eligible to further protect yourself, your family and the progress we have made together against COVID.”

A total of 72% of new COVID-19 cases in Colorado are among unvaccinated individuals and 77% of individuals who are currently hospitalized are unvaccinated.

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