Government announce further changes to the way coronavirus testing figures are published after failing to disclose number people tested for over six weeks
and live on Freeview channel 276
The way Covid-19 testing figures are published will be changed to reflect that people are being tested on a regular basis, Downing Street said.
The Department of Health and Social care have failed to publish the daily number of people tested since May 21, when 80,297 individuals were tested. Since then, the figures have been listed as ‘unavailable’.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHowever, the number of tests carried out data has continued to be published on a daily basis. The latest figures show 125,622 daily tests were processed and 164,849 had been made available across the UK in the 24 hours leading up to 9am on Sunday, July 5.
And after 46 days without publishing the number of people tested, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman has finally confirmed that the figures will no longer be available through the Department of Health and Social Care.
"This is because the daily people tested statistic only counts new people being tested,” the spokesman said.
"For example, someone who is tested in February and then tested again this month will only be counted once.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad"Considering hospital and care home staff are now being tested on a regular basis, we don't think this statistic would be an accurate reflection of the amount of daily testing that is taking place.
"Test and trace statistics published weekly will still include the number of people who have been tested."
The spokesman said that the UK’s testing capacity on July 5 stood at 294,258.