Covid news - live: Probe into 43,000 false negative test results as cases near peak of second wave

An estimated 43,000 people may have been given wrong negative PCR Covid test results, health chiefs say, prompting an investigation into what went wrong at a Midlands laboratory.

NHS Test and Trace has suspended testing operations provided by Immensa Health Clinic Ltd at its laboratory in Wolverhampton, following an investigation into reports of people receiving negative PCR test results after they had previously tested positive on a lateral flow.

A negative PCR means people will not have needed to isolate and could potentially have spread the infection to many other people.

The errors relate to test results given to people between 8 September and 12 October, mainly in the southwest of England, but with some cases in the southeast and Wales.

It comes as the current coronavirus rate is nearing the peak seen in the second wave last winter. Estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show overall one in 60 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to 9 October, up from one in 70 the previous week.

One in 60 is the equivalent of about 890,000 people. At the peak of the second wave in early January, around one in 50 was estimated to have coronavirus.

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Test and Trace suspend operations at private lab after 43,000 false negative Covid tests

UK Covid daily cases highest since July

Covid: False negative test results given at government-run PCR site

Key Points

• Test and Trace suspend operations at private lab after 43,000 false negative Covid tests

• Infection rates close to peak of second wave

• Covid: False negative test results given at government-run PCR site in West Berkshire

• 4,000 people in Wales may be affected by Covid testing issue

09:38 , Thomas Kingsley

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s coronavirus coverage as a government investigation has been launched into false coronavirus test results given.

Follow live for the latest updates.

Announcement comes as government confirms switch to lateral flow tests for holidaymakers

09:45 , Thomas Kingsley

Investigations into false coronavirus results at test sites come as the government announces that PCR tests will be scrapped for holidaymakers from 24 October in replace of the cheaper lateral flow tests.

Test and Trace suspend operations at private lab after 43,000 false negative Covid tests

09:50 , Thomas Kingsley

Authorities are contacting affected individuals who could still be infectious to advise them to take another test after operations at a private laboratory in Wolverhampton have been suspended due to incorrect Covid test results.

An estimated 43,000 people, mostly in the South West of England were given the false results, the UK Health Security Agency has said.

The 43,000 incorrect test results were handed out between 8 September and 12 October, UKHSA said.

Our science correspondent Sam Lovett has the full story below:

Test and Trace suspend operations at private lab after 43,000 incorrect Covid tests

‘There is no evidence of faults with PCR or lateral flow test kits,’ public health director says

10:01 , Thomas Kingsley

Dr Will Welfare, public health incident director at UKHSA, said “We have recently seen a rising number of positive LFD (lateral flow) results subsequently testing negative on PCR.”

However Dr Welfare insisted that “there is no evidence of any faults with LFD or PCR test kits themselves and the public should remain confident in using them and in other laboratory services currently provided.”

He added: “If you get a positive LFD test, it’s important to make sure that you then get a follow-up PCR test to confirm you have Covid-19.

“If you have symptoms of Covid-19, self-isolate and take a PCR test.”

Immensa Health clinic collaborating with UKHSA on investigations, CEO says

10:09 , Thomas Kingsley

Andrea Riposati, chief executive of Immensa Health Clinic Ltd, said: “We are fully collaborating with UKHSA on this matter.

He added: “Quality is paramount for us. We have proudly analysed more than 2.5 million samples for NHS Test and Trace, working closely with the great teams at the Department for Health and UKHSA.

“We do not wish this matter or anything else to tarnish the amazing work done by the UK in this pandemic.”

West Berkshire Council ‘strongly’ urges affected residents to rebook Covid tests

10:18 , Thomas Kingsley

Councillor Graham Bridgman, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing strongly urged any residents concerned about their results to book another test after an issue with some tests undertaken at Newbury Showground.

Tests taken between 3 to 12 October are those affected at the test site in South West England.

Our reporter Thomas Kingsley has the full story below:

Covid: False negative test results given at government-run PCR site

Italy faces unrest following new vaccine mandate pass

10:40 , Thomas Kingsley

Italy is bracing itself for more civil unrest as Covid passes become mandatory for all workers. Its strict vaccine mandate comes into action from Friday meaning all workers will be obliged to present a coronavirus health pass before entering their workplace.

The move has led to strikes, resignations and protests. As a result, some industries are struggling with staff shortages, The Guardian reported.

Those who are found to break the rules face suspension without pay or a fine of up to €1,500 (£1,270). Employers also face possible fines for not complying with the rules. More than 80 per cent of Italy’s population over 12-years-old has been vaccinated.

What we know so far about the false negative Covid results

10:52 , Thomas Kingsley

As reported over 43,000 people have received false negative PCR test results following an issue at a private laboratory.

This is what we know so far:

Where is the lab?

Immensa Health Clinic Ltd’s Wolverhampton lab has been identified as the site of the issue. The company is privately owned and was first established in May 2020 before later being handed a £120 million contract by the government to provide testing services for the UK.

Who is affected?

According to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the majority of the people affected are in south west England but some people in south east England and Wales may be impacted. West Berkshire Council has identified Newbury Showground as a site affected by the issue.

UKHSA said the issue is nationwide and investigations are ongoing.

When did this happen?

The UKHSA said Covid test results given between 8 September and 12 October. At Newbury Showground, however, West Berkshire Council said the issue affects tests between 3 and 12 October.

What caused the issue?

UKHSA said it is working with Immensa Health Clinic to identify the cause of the issue. The private lab processed around 400,000 samples, NHS Test and Trace said.

What happens next?

UKHSA has urged all those affected or concerned to rebook tests. West Berkshire Council also urged residents and their close contacts to rebook tests.

India welcomes tourists for first time in 19 months

11:12 , Thomas Kingsley

India announced that it will reopen its borders to tourists from 15 October.

The country’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced that visas will initially be granted only to travellers arriving on chartered flights from 15 October, before being extended to those arriving on commercial flights from 15 November.

No tourist visas have been issued since March 2020, when Prime Minister Modi’s government closed borders to foreign nationals in response to the pandemic.

Our reporter Lucy Thackray has the full story below:

India to reopen to tourists from 15 October

‘Technical issues’ behind false negative test results - UKHSA says

11:28 , Thomas Kingsley

According to the UK Health Security Agency, “technical issues” were behind the thousands of false negative test results given to the public.

“As a result of our investigation, we are working with NHS Test and Trace and the company to determine the laboratory technical issues which have led to inaccurate PCR results being issued to people. We have immediately suspended testing at this laboratory while we continue the investigation,” UKHSA said.

UKHSA insisted there were no issues with the PCR test kits or lateral flow test devices.

Whitty warns NHS will face ‘exceptionally difficult’ winter

11:33 , Thomas Kingsley

The false negative test results come as England’s top doctor Professor Chris Whitty warned that the NHS will face an “exceptionally difficult” winter, labelling the disappearance of Covid an “impossible dream.”

Speaking to the Royal College of GPs annual conference in Liverpool today, England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty spelled out “the tall order” facing the NHS in the coming months.

New NHS statistics today show almost a million 999 calls were made in September and A&E units have seen their busiest September ever.

Our health correspondent Shaun Lintern has the full story below:

Whitty warns NHS will face ‘exceptionally difficult’ winter

4,000 people in Wales may have been given inaccurate test results

11:44 , Thomas Kingsley

The Welsh government has said 4,000 people in Wales received inaccurate test results, Capital reports.

It comes as Immensa Health Clinic in Wolverhampton's has been suspended pending an investigation.

It’s believed the majority affected in Wales would have taken tests at sites across the Gwent and Cwm Taf Morgannwg areas.

One in three care home residents self-funding care before pandemic, report says

11:59 , Thomas Kingsley

More than a third of care home residents in England were paying for some or all of the care before the coronavirus pandemic, figures show.

36.7% of care home residents were self-funding their care between 2019-20 according to statistics from the Office for National Statistics.

This equates to 143,774 residents contributing to, or funding entirely, their care, while 63.3% (248,153 residents) were state-funded. People who were self-funding care were either paying for it privately or through a charity, the report found.

Additional reporting by PA

Wider Welsh testing network not affected, health minister says

12:16 , Thomas Kingsley

In a statement, Wales’ Health Minister Eluned Morgan says the welsh government was made aware last week of the UK Health Security Agency’s investigation into higher than expected positive lateral flow tests followed by negative PCR results.

She insisted that the issue does not involve the wider Welsh network, including the IP5 laboratory in Newport that processes the majority of Welsh samples.

NHS Test and Trace will contact anyone who received a test result from the affected lab from 4 October. They will be advised to take another test, in addition to their close contacts.

People who had tests processed at the lab between 8 September and 4 October will also be contacted.

Eton College puts 50 students ‘in lockdown'

12:34 , Thomas Kingsley

50 Eton College students have been placed in isolation after an outbreak of coronavirus in the boarding school.

Around 50 students were told to remain inside their boarding house for two days and return to virtual learning, while the rest of the school were told to put on face masks, take daily Covid tests and assemblies were cancelled.

The college said just one boarding house was self-isolating with students able to go to their own separate garden, gym or return home if they wished.

1 in 10 secondary school students have Covid - reports say

12:46 , Thomas Kingsley

According to latest Office for National Statistics figures, around one in 10 school students in years 7 to 11 have coronavirus in the week to 9 October.

This is the highest of any other age group.

When modelling the level of Covid-19 infections among different age ranges in England, the ONS said rates have increased for those in school years 7 to 11, people aged 50 to 69, and those aged 70 and over.

Infection rates close to peak of second wave

14:09 , Jane Dalton

Covid infection levels in England are getting close to the peak seen at the height of the second wave and are mostly being driven by rates among schoolchildren, data shows.

Estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show there are also early signs of a possible increase for people from school Year 12 to age 24.

Overall, one in 60 people in private households in England had Covid-19 in the week to October 9, up from one in 70 the previous week.

One in 60 is the equivalent of about 890,000 people. At the peak of the second wave in early January, around one in 50 was estimated to have coronavirus.

In Wales, around one in 45 people was thought to have Covid-19 in the week to October 9, up from one in 55 the previous week and the highest since estimates began in July 2020.

Another 32 people die with Covid in Scotland

14:24 , Jane Dalton

Scotland has recorded 32 coronavirus deaths and 2,762 new cases in the past 24 hours, the latest Scottish Government figures show.

It means the death toll under this daily measure - of people who first tested positive for the virus within the previous 28 days - stands at 8,907.

The daily test positivity rate is 8.2 per cent, up from 7.0 per cent the previous day.

A total of 851 people were in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19 on Thursday, down 57 in 24 hours, with 45 patients in intensive care, down five.

‘They could have cost lives’

15:09 , Thomas Kingsley

A man from Swindon, near the Newbury Showground test centre said his confidence in the accuracy of his recent Covid test result has been impacted by the issue at the Immensa laboratory.

Tim Barton, 48, told the PA news agency he and his family received positive lateral flow tests after falling ill with coronavirus symptoms earlier this month but their PCR tests came back negative.

The client relationship director said: “My son, daughter and myself all had positive (lateral flow tests) - we then had PCR tests done at the test site in Swindon all of which came back negative.

“This will undoubtedly impact people’s confidence in the accuracy of these types of tests... they could have cost lives.”

PM: People should not be concerned about lab error

15:20 , Thomas Kingsley

On a visit to Bristol, the Prime Minister told reporters that people should not be concerned as tens of thousands may have been given wrong coronavirus results due to “technical errors” at a private lab, BBC reported.

“We’re looking into what went wrong with that particular testing centre, but it doesn’t affect the overall numbers,” Boris Johnson said

He added: “Overall, the picture in the South West in the Bristol area and the rest of the country, remains very much where it has been for some time now. We are just getting along in a state of, more or less, an equilibrium.”

Thanks for following live

16:25 , Thomas Kingsley

We’ll be closing our live coverage of coronavirus news. Thank you for following The Independent’s coverage. We’ll be back with the latest Covid news.