Picture copyright Scottish authorities
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Scottish authorities
Nicola Sturgeon has voiced “very severe issues” about an obvious backlog of coronavirus take a look at outcomes.
The Scottish first minister mentioned she was searching for “pressing discussions” with UK ministers over delays to outcomes.
Solely 70 new constructive instances of the virus had been confirmed in Scotland on Monday, in comparison with 244 on Sunday.
Ms Sturgeon mentioned the figures had been “not but full”, and instructed that colleges going again in England might be inflicting a spike in demand for exams.
The system in Scotland was hit by “distinctive demand” when pupils returned to colleges in August.
The Division of Well being and Social Care (DHSC) mentioned a “important” variety of folks had been searching for exams, together with some “who do not need signs and should not in any other case eligible” – however that capability was at its highest degree ever.
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The “huge bulk” of Scotland’s coronavirus testing is carried out as a part of a UK-wide community of take a look at centres and cell testing models, with the outcomes processed in Lighthouse labs such because the one in Glasgow.
Ms Sturgeon mentioned the Scottish authorities had been “totally engaged and concerned in that system”, and wished to work “in partnership with the UK authorities” to unravel any issues.
Nevertheless, amid stories of a backlog of exams, she mentioned UK ministers wanted to “share the size and nature of the problems” in order that “we will collectively and really rapidly discover options”.
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Ms Sturgeon mentioned: “We now have a really severe concern that the backlog of take a look at outcomes being confronted by the UK lab community is beginning to influence on the timeous reporting of Scottish outcomes.
“We now have purpose to be involved that the figures which have been reported at this time should not full, as a result of a number of the turnaround of the exams executed in Scotland over yesterday is longer.
“I will be searching for pressing discussions later at this time with UK authorities counterparts simply to verify we’re doing every part doable to get on prime of this earlier than it turns into an even bigger concern.”
‘Important demand’
On Sunday, the DHSC mentioned the Take a look at and Hint system was working and that “our capability is the very best it has ever been”.
Nevertheless, it added: “We’re seeing a major demand for exams, together with from individuals who do not need signs and should not in any other case eligible.
“New reserving slots and residential testing kits are made accessible each day for many who want them and we’re concentrating on testing capability on the areas that want it most, together with these the place there may be an outbreak, and prioritising at-risk teams.
“Our laboratories are processing greater than one million exams every week and we lately introduced new amenities and expertise to course of outcomes even quicker.”
At her each day coronavirus briefing, the primary minister mentioned Scotland was in a “precarious scenario”.
Even with a decrease variety of constructive outcomes on Monday, they nonetheless represented 2.7% of individuals examined. A couple of weeks in the past that determine was normally round or beneath 1%.
Ms Sturgeon mentioned the variety of new instances was trebling roughly each three weeks, a sample which is “not sustainable”.
New restrictions on the quantity of people that can meet up had been imposed on Monday, limiting gatherings to 6 folks from two households.
Ms Sturgeon mentioned: “We now have to behave now, we’ve to behave rapidly to forestall and even larger improve in instances as we undergo autumn and into winter.”