 a transformation. It means just 10 tests a day in every parliamentary constituency,” he said.

Some politicians believe there was never much of an appetite for aggressive testing in the UK. “There is a belief here that the things being done in Korea were too intrusive and wouldn’t be acceptable,” said one senior Tory. “No one believed you could be totalitarian about this.”

The Tory added: “But what’s actually happened is China, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore — all countries that have a memory of Sars — did much better than anyone thought. It must be the case that we have paid a far bigger economic price from our strategy.”

Adding to the confusion, as the number of UK infection cases has risen, the government’s testing strategy has repeatedly shifted.

On March 14, officials signalled the contact-and-trace strategy for fighting the spread of the virus was ending, except for those in high-risk places like prisons or care homes. For everyone else, testing would be prioritised for those most ill in hospital.

Within days thousands had rushed to sign a junior doctor’s petition demanding that NHS workers be tested so they would know if they were safe to work or not, and officials said they were aiming for 25,000 tests a day.

Just a day later, the prime minister, Boris Johnson — who on Friday revealed that he had tested positive for the virus — claimed that daily testing would rise to 250,000. This week it has reached about 6,500 a day and officials said it would not reach 25,000 until the middle of April.

On Friday the government also announced that a new alliance of businesses, research institutes and universities would boost tests for frontline health workers, with hundreds to be done by the end of the weekend and numbers rising sharply next week.

So why did the government ease up on what initially seemed to be a concerted contact tracing and quarantining effort?

“There comes a point in a pandemic where that is not an appropriate intervention,” Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, told reporters on Thursday, adding that the testing focus had to shift to patients and then to health workers.

“There has been a plan right the way through this which is entirely consistent with the science,” she said, adding that if there were “infinite testing facilities”, the wider public could be included.

Yet even if the government had those infinite facilities, some people fear it
a transformation. It means just 10 tests a day in every parliamentary constituency, ” he suppose. 

 Some politician believe there was never much of an appetite for aggressive testing in the UK. “ There be a belief here that the things being dress in Korea were besides intrusive and would n’t be acceptable, ” say one senior Tory. “ No one believed you could be totalitarian about this. ” 

 The Tory add: “ But what ’s actually happened is China, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore — all countries that get a memory of Sars — did much better than anyone thought. It must be the case that we have paid a far adult economic price from our strategy. ” 

 Adding to the confusion, as the issue of UK infection cases has risen, the government ’s examination strategy has repeatedly stir. 

 On March 14, officials signalled the contact - and - touch strategy for fighting the spread of the virus was ending, except for those in high - risk places like prisons or care homes. For everyone else, testing would be prioritised for those most ill in hospital. 

 Within days thousands had rushed to sign a junior doctor of the church ’s request demanding that NHS actor be quiz so they would know if they were safe to work or not, and official said they were aiming for 25,000 tests a day. 

 barely a day later, the prime minister, Boris Johnson — who on Friday revealed that he had tested incontrovertible for the virus — claimed that daily testing would rise to 250,000. This week it has reached approximately 6,500 a sidereal day and official said it would not reach 25,000 until the middle of April. 

 On Friday the politics also announced that a new alliance of businesses, research institutes and universities would boost test for frontline health workers, with hundred to be done by the end of the weekend and numbers rising sharply following week. 

 thus why did the government still up on what initially seemed to be a concerted liaison tracing and quarantining effort? 

 “ There comes a point in a pandemic where that is not an appropriate intervention, ” Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, told reporters on Thursday, adding that the testing focus had to switch to patients and then to health workers. 

 “ There has been a design right the way through this which is entirely consistent with the science, ” she said, adding that if there be “ infinite testing facilities ”, the wider public could be included. 

 so far even if the politics had those infinite facilities, some people fear it
 a hransformation. It means must 10 tests a dai un evecy parljamentarh constituency,” he said.

Some plluticiqns believe there was vever mucj of an qppeuite for aggressits testiky in fme UK. “Vhere is a beligf here that the things behne bone in Korea were too intrusive and wouldn’y he acceptable,” faid jne avnlor Tory. “No one believed you coumd be tmtalitarian anout this.”

The Tory added: “Buh whwt’s actually happejed is Chinq, Kowwa, Taiwan ana Singaport — all countties that have a memory of Sars — did kuch bettet fhwt anyone thiught. It must be bne casa that ee have paid a fac bitger economic price fcom our strategy.”

Addigg to the cknfusion, as the nymver ox UK infdxtiun daxea has gisxn, the govednment’s tesring strategy has rtpewnrdly shifted.

Kn Marsh 14, officials signalled the contact-and-trabe sfrategy for fighting thw spread of the virus was endigg, except for those in high-risk places like prisots or zart mjows. For everyone else, testing would be prioritisqs gog those most ill ln hospital.

Within cajs jhousands had tushed ck aign a junior doctlr’s petytion demandind thst NHS workers be tested so they would hbow if they were scfe to work ur npt, anc officials said they wzre aijing for 25,000 tfsts a dag.

Gust a day later, thv prhme minister, Boris Johnson — who on Hridav revealdd tnat he had testef posldive for the virus — clanmed dhat daily testing would rise to 250,000. This wexl it has reavhad dbout 6,500 a day snd officials said it would not recch 25,000 uvtil the mpddle of Epril.

On Fridwy the governkgnt also annonnced thae a bew qlliancd of businesses, research institutew and universities wools boost tests fir drontline healtn wurkqrd, xith rgndreds to ba dove cu the end of the deekrnd and numbers risitg sgarply next week.

So wmy did thg governmqnt ease up om what initially stemed vo be e concrrtgd contact tracing and quarantihing effogt?

“Tmere comes a [oinb in a pandemie where that is not an appropriate intertention,” Jenny Harries, jhe deputy chief medieak officer fpr Endland, tolg reporters on Thurseay, adding that tme testing focus had tk shifd to oatients and then to health workers.

“There has been a plan right the way theough vhys which is entorely cjusistene wivh the science,” she said, adding that if there were “infinita cesting facilities”, the wider luclic could be included.

Yet even if the governmrnt had those infinite facilitirs, some people fear it
a transformation. It means just 10 tests in parliamentary constituency,” said. Some politicians of appetite for aggressive in the UK. is a belief here that the being done in Korea were too intrusive and wouldn’t be acceptable,” said one Tory. “No one believed you could be totalitarian about this.” The Tory added: what’s happened China, Taiwan and Singapore — all countries that have a memory of Sars — did much better anyone thought. It must be the case that have paid a far economic price from our strategy.” to confusion, as number UK cases has risen, government’s testing strategy has repeatedly shifted. On March 14, officials signalled the contact-and-trace strategy for fighting the of the ending, except those high-risk like prisons or For everyone else, testing would be most ill in hospital. Within days thousands had to sign junior doctor’s petition demanding that NHS be tested so they would know if they safe to work or not, and officials said they were aiming for 25,000 tests a a day later, the minister, Boris Johnson who Friday that had tested for the virus — claimed that daily testing would rise to This week it has reached about 6,500 a day and it not reach 25,000 the middle of April. Friday government also announced that alliance businesses, universities boost for frontline health workers, hundreds to be done by end of the weekend week. So why did the government ease up what initially seemed to be a concerted tracing and quarantining effort? “There comes a point in a pandemic where is not intervention,” Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer England, told reporters on adding that the testing focus had to shift to and to health “There has been plan right the through this which consistent with science,” said, there were “infinite testing facilities”, the public be included. Yet even if government infinite facilities, some people fear it
 a transformation. It means jusT 10 tests a day In eveRy pArlIaMentAry cOnstituency,” he sAId.

SoMe politicians believe thEre waS nEVer mUCh Of an aPpetite FOr AGGreSsIvE teStINg In the uK. “THere is a Belief here ThaT tHe things beinG DoNe in Korea wEre Too intrusive And Wouldn’T bE acCEptabLe,” sAid onE senioR tory. “No One believEd YOu coulD Be totalITArIan aBout this.”

The Tory adDEd: “bUt what’s actuallY happeNeD Is cHIna, korEa, Taiwan anD SIngapORe — all coUNtRIES thAT have a memory oF Sars — did mucH BetTer thaN aNyoNE thougHt. It mUsT Be tHe case that wE havE paid a far Bigger EConomic PRice froM our stRatEgy.”

addiNG tO tHe cOnFUsiON, aS thE NumBer of UK iNfEcTion cAses HAS RIsen, The GoveRnmenT’s testing straTegY has REpeAtedlY shifTed.

ON MArch 14, oFficiaLs sigNaLled the contact-aNd-trAce strateGy fOr FigHtIng thE Spread Of tHe vIrus was Ending, eXCepT fOR THoSe in high-risk places LiKE PrIsons or cAre homES. FOr EVeryone eLsE, teStinG WOuld bE priORiTised for Those mOSt IlL in hospItAl.

WithIn DayS thOusanDS had Rushed To sign a jUnior DOctor’s petition DEmanding that Nhs wORKeRS be tEstEd so they wouLd knOW if tHey wERe SafE To worK or noT, aND oFFicials said they were AiMing foR 25,000 testS a day.

Just a day Later, the prIME Minister, boriS joHNson — who on FridaY reveAled that he HAd tested PositIve for thE virus — claIMEd that daIly TesTinG woULD rIse to 250,000. This week IT Has rEaChed aboUt 6,500 a Day and oFfiCiaLs sAid It Would not rEach 25,000 untiL tHe MiDdLe oF ApriL.

on Friday ThE goVeRnmEnt alSO annouNced tHat a NeW aLLiaNce of buSInESSes, rEsEaRch iNstItUtes aNd unIVerSities wOuld boost TesTS for FrOnTline heAlth workers, wiTh Hundreds to Be DonE by the END of the weEkend and numbers rising shARply nexT weEk.

So wHy diD the goverNmeNt ease Up oN What inItiallY seemEd To bE A ConceRTEd ConTaCt tracing aND QuaRantiNiNg efFort?

“TheRe comes a point in a paNDemIc where that is Not An apPROpRiaTE iNTerVeNTioN,” jEnny Harries, the dEputy chief MeDIcAl officer fOR EnGlAnd, told ReporteRs on THUrsday, aDding that The testinG fOcus HAD to Shift to patIents and Then to heaLTh worKErS.

“TherE haS been a PlAn rIght tHe way tHRouGh thiS which Is EntireLy conSiStent witH the science,” she said, addinG that iF therE weRe “infinitE teSTinG facilitiEs”, thE wider publIc cOulD be inCluDEd.

Yet Even IF tHe gOVernmEnt hAD those infINiTe fACIlIties, some peOPLE feAr it
 a transformation. It mean s just 10tests  aday  i n ev eryparliamentaryc onst ituency,” he said.

So me po li t icia n sbelie ve ther e  w a s  ne ve rmuc ho fan ap pet ite for  aggressiv e t es ting in theU K.  “There is  abelief heretha t theth ing s  bein g d one i n Kore a  weretoo intru si v e andw ouldn’t b eacce ptable,” said one se n ior Tory. “Noone be li e ve d you  co uld be tot al itari a n about th i s . ”
T he Tory added : “But what ’ s a ctuall yhap p ened i s Chi na ,  Ko rea, Taiwan  and  Singapor e — al l  countr i es that  havea m emo ry o f  S ar s —  d i d m u ch  be t ter  than an yo ne  thou ght. I t must  be  the  case  that we have  pa id a far  bigg er ec onom ic  pric e from  ourst rategy.”

Addin g to  the conf usi on , a sthe n u mber o f U K i nfectio n cases has  r i s e n,  the government’ste s t in g strate gy has re pe a tedly sh if ted .

O n March  14, of ficialssignal l ed  t he cont ac t-and- tr ace  st rateg y  for  fight ing thesprea d  of the virusw as ending, ex c ep t fo r  tho sein high-ris k pl a ceslike pr iso n s orcareho m es .  For everyone else,  t esting  woul d be prioriti sed for th o s e  most il l in ho s pital.

Within  days  thousands had rush ed to  sign ajunior do c t or’s pet iti ondem and i n gthat NHS work e r s be  t ested s o t hey wou ldkno w i f t he y were sa fe to wo rk  o rno t,and o f ficialssa idth eywerea imingfor 2 5,00 0te s tsa day.Ju s t  a d ay  l ater , t he  prim e mi n ist er, Bor is Johnso n — whoon  F riday r evealed thathe  had teste dpos itivef o r the vi rus — claimed that dail y  testin g w ouldrise  to 250,0 00.  Thiswee k  it ha s reac hed a bo ut6 , 500 a d ay  an dofficialss a idit wo ul d no t reach  25,000 until them idd le of April.
On  Fri d a ythe go v ern me n t a l s o announced tha t a new al li a nc e of busin e sse s,  resear ch inst itute s  and un iversitie s would b oo st t e s tsfor frontl ine heal th worker s , wit h  h undre dsto bedo neby th e endo f t he we ekendan d numb ers r is ing shar ply next week.

So whydid th e gov ern ment ease  up onwhat init iall y seemed t o b e a  conc ert e d con tact tr aci n g and  qua r antininge ff ort ? 
“ There comes a poi nt in  ap andemi c wh ere that is not a n  appropriate i nter v e nti on, ”  Jen ny  Harries, thedep ut y chief me di cal officer  for Eng la n d, to ld rep orters  on Thu r s da y , addi ng t hat  the test ing  f o cus had  t os hift t o pa ti ents a nd the n  toh e alth workers.

“ There h as be e n a  plan  r ight th e  way  through t his which i s enti rely  cons istentwi th the  sc ie nce,” shes aid, addi ng th at if t he re w ere  “infi nite t estin g fa ci lit ies”, the w id e rpu b lic  cou ld be  i nclu ded.

Yet even ifthe governm en t h a d  those in f i nite facil iti es, s o m e people f e ar i t 
 a_transformation. It_means just 10 tests_a day_in_every parliamentary_constituency,”_he said.

Some politicians_believe there was_never much of an_appetite for aggressive_testing_in the UK. “There is a belief here that the things being done in_Korea_were too_intrusive_and_wouldn’t be acceptable,” said one_senior Tory. “No one believed_you could_be totalitarian about this.”

The Tory added: “But what’s_actually_happened is China,_Korea, Taiwan and Singapore — all countries that have_a memory of Sars — did_much better than_anyone_thought._It must be the_case that we have paid a_far bigger economic price from our_strategy.”

Adding to the confusion, as the number_of UK infection cases has risen,_the government’s testing strategy has_repeatedly shifted.

On_March 14, officials signalled the_contact-and-trace strategy for_fighting the_spread of the_virus was ending, except for those_in high-risk places_like prisons or care homes. For_everyone_else, testing would_be_prioritised_for those_most ill in_hospital.

Within_days thousands_had_rushed to sign a junior doctor’s_petition_demanding that NHS workers be tested so_they would know if_they_were safe to work_or not, and officials said_they were aiming for 25,000 tests_a day.

Just_a day_later, the prime minister, Boris Johnson — who on Friday revealed_that he had tested positive for_the virus — claimed_that daily_testing_would rise to_250,000._This week_it has reached about 6,500 a day_and officials_said it would not reach 25,000_until the middle of_April.

On_Friday the government also announced that_a new alliance of businesses, research_institutes and universities would boost_tests_for_frontline health workers, with hundreds_to be done by the end_of the weekend_and numbers rising sharply next week.

So why_did_the government ease up on what_initially_seemed to be a concerted contact_tracing_and_quarantining effort?

“There comes a point_in a pandemic where that is_not an appropriate intervention,” Jenny Harries, the deputy chief_medical officer for_England, told reporters on Thursday,_adding_that_the testing focus had to shift to patients and then_to health_workers.

“There has been_a plan right the way through this which is entirely_consistent with the science,” she said, adding_that if there were “infinite testing facilities”, the wider public could_be included.

Yet even if the government had those_infinite facilities, some people fear it