The UK is at risk of further Covid-19 spikes due to an "unfit" test, track and trace system, according to scientists.
This has come from former Government chief scientific adviser Sir David King and his team, who has urged ministers to overhaul to current system.
Sir David said a new tracing and isolating system led by health bodies would help the UK out of lockown and has described the government's current procedure as "not fit for purpose".
The scientists say Covid-19 will only be contained if 80% of the contacts of infected people are traced and contacted but they think this is “impossible” under the current centralised system using 25,000 contact tracers.
In their report into test and trace, released today, the experts say the approach is “severely constrained by lack of co-ordination, lack of trust, lack of evidence of utility”, and contacts being found and isolating for 14 days “is clearly not happening”.
The group, known as Independent Sage, was set up after the official Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) had faced criticism over not being transparent.
Sir David added: “The Government has placed huge emphasis on their test, track and trace system in recent weeks, even labelling it ‘world beating’.
“It is clear from our research that this simply isn’t the case, indeed the system as it stands is not fit for purpose.”
He continued: “We are calling on the Government to urgently rethink their course to ensure that we have a system in place that will help and not hinder the country’s recovery.”
