A public health professor has said it is "disgraceful" that close contacts of people confirmed to have coronavirus are still not being tested.
Gabriel Scally, visiting professor of public health at the University of Bristol, noted how testing is still only offered to people who have one of the main COVID symptoms - even if a member of their household or bubble has tested positive.
Speaking during a virtual meeting of Independent SAGE, of which he is a member, he said: "It is a complete disgrace that the UK is not testing high-risk people, close contacts of those who have been diagnosed as positive.
"They are not being tested - they are being asked to self-isolate and only come for testing if they develop symptoms.
"So we are missing a lot of asymptomatic people and not detecting a lot of people early on."
Close contacts of people who have tested positive are currently only instructed by the government to self-isolate for 10 days, and to get tested if they show symptoms.
Last month the government announced the roll-out of more asymptomatic testing, noting that "it is crucial given that around 1 in 3 people have coronavirus without displaying any symptoms".
Prof Scally has repeatedly called for a better test and trace system, calling in September for a "complete revamp".
Speaking during the meeting this afternoon (Friday, February 19), he suggested three "key" actions to support communities most at risk of being affected by covid.
These were implementing a proper testing strategy, local resourcing for local authorities, and working with community leaders.
He agreed with other members that existing inequalities and poor life expectancy in certain areas would only get worse with covid unless there was sufficient intervention.
Prof Scally continued: "I do fear that every time we have one of these lockdowns, the government just sits on its hands and waits, and waits and waits, and doesn't do the things during a lockdown that they need to do."
As an example of what should be done, he said the government should be giving local authority public health teams more resources to manage the covid response in their area, noting the impact of council cuts that meant many were stretched.
He spoke in response to concerns raised by shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth, who said a "big covid divide is opening up" due the exacerbation of existing social inequalities.
Speaking during this afternoon's meeting, the MP said: "The rates are falling more slowly in poorer areas...and we are beginning to see a vaccination covid divide as well."
Dr Zubaida Haque, a former director at race equality think tank the Runnymede Trust, said that certain areas were left behind "in perpetual lockdown" last time the national restrictions were lifted.
She said: "What we need to do is go back to that test, trace and supported isolation - financially support people so they can self-isolate - and provide them with accommodation."
While SAGE is the official panel of scientists that gives expert advice to the government during emergencies, Independent SAGE is an unofficial group that was set up to engage with the public and policy makers.
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The panel also discussed the lifting of lockdown and return of schools, which is expected to begin on March 8.
Kit Yates, a mathematical biologist at the University of Bath, said: "It so disappointing to see that almost nothing has been done to make schools safer places to reduce the potential for transmission.
"I'm a bit worried to be honest that we're going to fail at the very first hurdle [in coming out of lockdown]."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due address the nation on Monday (February 22) to unveil his 'road map' out of lockdown.
