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In this Chapter we consider in particular: • the initial testing capacity available; • the...

Conclusion
In this Chapter we consider in particular: • the initial testing capacity available; • the decision to abandon testing in the community; • the 100,000 tests a day target introduced by the then Secretary of State; • the centralisation of testing laboratories; • the shortage of testing capacity in Autumn 2020; • the organisation of contact tracing; and • the management of “NHS” Test and Trace. Limited testing capacity
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
In respect of test, trace and isolate, the government will build on the legacy of the response to this pandemic. As the government has set out in the ‘Living with COVID- 19’ strategy,2 this includes ensuring that a resilient and scalable infrastructure is in place to protect the public from new and existing threats to health. It will involve working closely with local authorities to ensure they have the knowledge, experience, and capability to support future contact tracing arrangements and to draw down expert advice to deploy for greatest public health benefit; for example the capacity to respond to future public health emergencies. UKHSA, established during the pandemic, will also maintain the well-established relationships with local tracing arrangements within all local authorities.
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.6 yrs
Report published 12 Oct 2021