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| Coronavirus live: testing at UK lab paused over thousands of possible false negatives; Covid pass mandatory for all workers in Italy | Coronavirus live: testing at UK lab paused over thousands of possible false negatives; Covid pass mandatory for all workers in Italy |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Lab in Wolverhampton suspended amid fears of at least 43,000 faulty PCR results; Italy’s strict vaccine mandate is expected to bring fresh protests | Lab in Wolverhampton suspended amid fears of at least 43,000 faulty PCR results; Italy’s strict vaccine mandate is expected to bring fresh protests |
| The Welsh government has said that around 4,000 Welsh residents may have been given inaccurate Covid test results. | |
| Health minister Eluned Morgan said the majority of these tests are believed to have been taken by people in the Gwent and Cwm Taf Morgannwg areas of south Wales. Morgan said: | |
| She added: | |
| Morning all, Tom Ambrose here ready to bring you all the big Covid news from the UK and abroad throughout today. | |
| Let’s start with some news coming in from Italy this morning. Protests have been taking place as one of the most stringent anti-coronavirus measures in Europe went into effect today. | |
| Italy is requiring all workers, from magistrates to maids, to show a health pass to get into their place of employment. | |
| Police were out in force this morning and schools planned to end classes early. Meanwhile, embassies issued warnings of possible violence amid concerns that anti-vaccination demonstrations could turn violent, as they did in Rome last weekend. | |
| Protests by port workers in Genoa and Trieste threatened to affect commercial activities, but early reports suggested the ports were operational. Protesters shouted “Liberta” (Freedom) in a largely peaceful demonstration in Florence. | |
| The so-called “Green Pass” shows proof of vaccination, a recent negative test or of having recovered from Covid in the past six months. Italy already required them to access all sorts of indoor environments, including restaurants, museums, theatres, and long-distance trains. | |
| But the addition of the workplace requirement has sparked heated debate and opposition in a country that was a coronavirus epicentre early in the pandemic and where vaccination rates are among the highest in Europe. | |
| At least 43,000 people may have been wrongly given a negative Covid test result, the UK Health Security Agency has said, as it announced the suspension of operations at a privately run lab in Wolverhampton. The move comes after an investigation into reports of people receiving negative PCR test results after they had previously tested positive on a lateral flow device. | |
| Dr Will Welfare, public health incident director at the UK Health Security Agency said: “There is no evidence of any faults with lateral flow or PCR test kits themselves and the public should remain confident in using them and in other laboratory services currently provided.” | |
| Russia has again set a new record for the number of coronavirus-related deaths, with 999 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours. There was also a record number of new cases recorded – 32,196. This is only the second time that Russia has officially recorded more than 30,000 new cases in a single day. | |
| Australia’s outbound travel ban will be lifted from 1 November in a move triggered by New South Wales announcing an end to quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals. | |
| Public health orders requiring New South Wales health workers, teachers and some construction workers to be vaccinated to keep working are valid, the NSW supreme court has ruled in Australia. | |
| Hobart and southern Tasmania have been forced into a snap three-day lockdown after a coronavirus-infected New South Wales man allegedly entered the state illegally and escaped hotel quarantine. | |
| South Korea said it would lift stringent anti-coronavirus curbs on social gatherings next week, as the country prepares to switch to a “living with Covid-19” strategy amid rising vaccination levels. | |
| Israel is seeing a sharp drop in new infections and severe illness, aided by its use of vaccine boosters, vaccine passports and mask mandates, scientists and health officials said. | |
| Senior government science advisers from the UK, Europe and Canada have called on countries around the world to offer vaccination certificates to volunteers on Covid jab trials so they can travel internationally. | |
| That’s it from me, Martin Belam, for this week. I’ll see you again on Monday. Tom Ambrose is waiting in the wings to take over. Stay safe and have a great weekend. | |
| There’s another quote here on the false negative PCR tests story. 43,000 people may have had incorrect results, which has led to a testing lab in Wolverhampton being suspended. The tests were mostly carried out in in south west England, although some were in the south east of England, and some in Wales. | There’s another quote here on the false negative PCR tests story. 43,000 people may have had incorrect results, which has led to a testing lab in Wolverhampton being suspended. The tests were mostly carried out in in south west England, although some were in the south east of England, and some in Wales. |
| Andrea Riposati, chief executive of Immensa Health Clinic, the laboratory involved said: | Andrea Riposati, chief executive of Immensa Health Clinic, the laboratory involved said: |
| Earlier this week a parliamentary report described the country’s Covid response as “one of UK’s worst ever public health failures”. | Earlier this week a parliamentary report described the country’s Covid response as “one of UK’s worst ever public health failures”. |
| Russia has again set a new record for the number of coronavirus-related deaths, with 999 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours. The previous record was set yesterday at 986. That had surpassed a record set the day before. | Russia has again set a new record for the number of coronavirus-related deaths, with 999 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours. The previous record was set yesterday at 986. That had surpassed a record set the day before. |
| There was also a record number of new cases recorded – 32,196. This is only the second time that Russia has officially recorded more than 30,000 new cases in a single day. | There was also a record number of new cases recorded – 32,196. This is only the second time that Russia has officially recorded more than 30,000 new cases in a single day. |
| Nurses around the US are getting burned out by the Covid-19 crisis and quitting, yet applications to nursing schools are rising, driven by what educators say are young people who see the global emergency as an opportunity and a challenge. | Nurses around the US are getting burned out by the Covid-19 crisis and quitting, yet applications to nursing schools are rising, driven by what educators say are young people who see the global emergency as an opportunity and a challenge. |
| Among them is University of Connecticut sophomore Brianna Monte, a 19-year-old from Mahopac, New York, who had been considering majoring in education but decided on nursing after watching nurses care for her 84-year-grandmother, who was diagnosed last year with Covid-19 and also had cancer. | Among them is University of Connecticut sophomore Brianna Monte, a 19-year-old from Mahopac, New York, who had been considering majoring in education but decided on nursing after watching nurses care for her 84-year-grandmother, who was diagnosed last year with Covid-19 and also had cancer. |
| “They were switching out their protective gear in between every patient, running like crazy trying to make sure all of their patients were attended to,” she said. | “They were switching out their protective gear in between every patient, running like crazy trying to make sure all of their patients were attended to,” she said. |
| “I had that moment of clarity that made me want to jump right in to healthcare and join the workers on the frontline.” | “I had that moment of clarity that made me want to jump right in to healthcare and join the workers on the frontline.” |
| Nationally, enrolment in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral nursing programs increased 5.6% in 2020 from the year before to just over 250,000 students, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. | Nationally, enrolment in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral nursing programs increased 5.6% in 2020 from the year before to just over 250,000 students, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. |
| Figures for the current 2021-22 school year won’t be available until January, but administrators say they have continued to see a surge in interest. | Figures for the current 2021-22 school year won’t be available until January, but administrators say they have continued to see a surge in interest. |
| Read more here: Applications to US nursing schools rise as students want to ‘join the frontline’ | Read more here: Applications to US nursing schools rise as students want to ‘join the frontline’ |
| Hobart and southern Tasmania have been forced into a snap three-day lockdown after a coronavirus-infected New South Wales man allegedly entered the state illegally and escaped hotel quarantine. | Hobart and southern Tasmania have been forced into a snap three-day lockdown after a coronavirus-infected New South Wales man allegedly entered the state illegally and escaped hotel quarantine. |
| The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, announced a range of restrictions would be in force across a dozen local government areas from 6pm on Friday. | The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, announced a range of restrictions would be in force across a dozen local government areas from 6pm on Friday. |
| The lockdown was sparked by a 31-year-old man who was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at a home in Hobart’s northern suburbs. | The lockdown was sparked by a 31-year-old man who was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at a home in Hobart’s northern suburbs. |
| He had earlier allegedly escaped from Hobart’s Travelodge facility. He has not co-operated with authorities and provided false information about his movements, the premier said. | He had earlier allegedly escaped from Hobart’s Travelodge facility. He has not co-operated with authorities and provided false information about his movements, the premier said. |
| “One of the things that we do not want to be in this state is either Sydney or Melbourne, who acted too late in both instances when dealing with Delta,” Gutwein told reporters. | “One of the things that we do not want to be in this state is either Sydney or Melbourne, who acted too late in both instances when dealing with Delta,” Gutwein told reporters. |
| Read more here: Hobart and southern Tasmania enter snap three-day Covid lockdown | Read more here: Hobart and southern Tasmania enter snap three-day Covid lockdown |
| Following up on that story at least 43,000 people in the UK may have had false negatives from PCR tests, PA Media are carrying this quote from Dr Will Welfare, who is public health incident director at the UK Health Security Agency. He said: | Following up on that story at least 43,000 people in the UK may have had false negatives from PCR tests, PA Media are carrying this quote from Dr Will Welfare, who is public health incident director at the UK Health Security Agency. He said: |
| The tests in question were taken between 8 September and 12 October, mainly in the South West of England. | The tests in question were taken between 8 September and 12 October, mainly in the South West of England. |
| Public health orders requiring New South Wales health workers, teachers and some construction workers to be vaccinated to keep working are valid, the NSW supreme court has ruled in Australia. | Public health orders requiring New South Wales health workers, teachers and some construction workers to be vaccinated to keep working are valid, the NSW supreme court has ruled in Australia. |
| The Sydney construction worker Al-Munir Kassam, Byron Bay aged care worker Natasha Henry and eight others had argued the public health orders should be overturned as they impinged on various rights, including a right to bodily integrity and a right to freedom of movement. | The Sydney construction worker Al-Munir Kassam, Byron Bay aged care worker Natasha Henry and eight others had argued the public health orders should be overturned as they impinged on various rights, including a right to bodily integrity and a right to freedom of movement. |
| But Justice Robert Beech-Jones said arguing the health order impinged on rights was of little assistance when such abrogation was what the legislation set out to achieve. | But Justice Robert Beech-Jones said arguing the health order impinged on rights was of little assistance when such abrogation was what the legislation set out to achieve. |
| When all was said and done, the public health orders in question restricted freedom of movement, he said. | When all was said and done, the public health orders in question restricted freedom of movement, he said. |
| “So far as the right to bodily integrity is concerned, it is not violated as the impugned orders do not authorise the involuntary vaccination of anyone,” he said. | “So far as the right to bodily integrity is concerned, it is not violated as the impugned orders do not authorise the involuntary vaccination of anyone,” he said. |
| “So far as the impairment of freedom of movement is concerned, the degree of impairment differs depending on whether a person is vaccinated or unvaccinated. Curtailing the free movement of persons, including their movement to and at work, are the very type of restrictions that the Public Health Act clearly authorises.” | “So far as the impairment of freedom of movement is concerned, the degree of impairment differs depending on whether a person is vaccinated or unvaccinated. Curtailing the free movement of persons, including their movement to and at work, are the very type of restrictions that the Public Health Act clearly authorises.” |
| Read more here: Mandatory vaccination for NSW essential workers is valid, court rules | Read more here: Mandatory vaccination for NSW essential workers is valid, court rules |
| There’s some chatter about how the UK government will verify lateral flow tests as the requirement for post-travel testing is reduced from a requirement to take a PCR test. | There’s some chatter about how the UK government will verify lateral flow tests as the requirement for post-travel testing is reduced from a requirement to take a PCR test. |
| On the radio this morning the UK transport secretary, Grants Shapps, has dismissed claims that people will have to film themselves taking the test. On LBC he said: | On the radio this morning the UK transport secretary, Grants Shapps, has dismissed claims that people will have to film themselves taking the test. On LBC he said: |
| A Covid testing lab in Wolverhampton has been suspended after it emerged around 43,000 people in the south-west of England may have been wrongly told their Covid test was negative because of errors at the lab. | A Covid testing lab in Wolverhampton has been suspended after it emerged around 43,000 people in the south-west of England may have been wrongly told their Covid test was negative because of errors at the lab. |
| In a statement, the UK health security agency said: “NHS test and trace have suspended testing operations provided by Immensa Health Clinic Ltd at its laboratory in Wolverhampton, following an investigation into reports of people receiving negative PCR test results after they have previously tested positive on a lateral flow device. | In a statement, the UK health security agency said: “NHS test and trace have suspended testing operations provided by Immensa Health Clinic Ltd at its laboratory in Wolverhampton, following an investigation into reports of people receiving negative PCR test results after they have previously tested positive on a lateral flow device. |
| “While investigations are under way into the precise cause, NHS test and trace estimate that around 400,000 samples have been processed through the lab, the vast majority of which will have been negative results, but an estimated 43,000 people may have been given incorrect negative PCR test results between 8 September and 12 October, mostly in the south-west of England. | “While investigations are under way into the precise cause, NHS test and trace estimate that around 400,000 samples have been processed through the lab, the vast majority of which will have been negative results, but an estimated 43,000 people may have been given incorrect negative PCR test results between 8 September and 12 October, mostly in the south-west of England. |
| “This is an isolated incident attributed to one laboratory but all samples are now being redirected to other laboratories. The number of tests carried out at the Immensa laboratory are small in the context of the wider network and testing availability is unaffected around the country. | “This is an isolated incident attributed to one laboratory but all samples are now being redirected to other laboratories. The number of tests carried out at the Immensa laboratory are small in the context of the wider network and testing availability is unaffected around the country. |
| “NHS TT is contacting the people that could still be infectious to advise them to take another test. Close contacts who are symptomatic will also be advised to take a test in line with normal practice. Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should book a PCR test. Those with a positive LFD test should get a follow up PCR test to confirm they have Covid-19.” | “NHS TT is contacting the people that could still be infectious to advise them to take another test. Close contacts who are symptomatic will also be advised to take a test in line with normal practice. Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms should book a PCR test. Those with a positive LFD test should get a follow up PCR test to confirm they have Covid-19.” |
| Australia’s outbound travel ban will be lifted from 1 November in a move triggered by New South Wales announcing an end to quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals. | Australia’s outbound travel ban will be lifted from 1 November in a move triggered by New South Wales announcing an end to quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals. |
| On Friday, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, told reporters in Sydney that from November “we will be allowing Australians, permanent residents and citizens and their families, to leave Australia from wherever they live in Australia and return”. | On Friday, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, told reporters in Sydney that from November “we will be allowing Australians, permanent residents and citizens and their families, to leave Australia from wherever they live in Australia and return”. |
| Although vaccinated travellers will be able to arrive in New South Wales without quarantine, Morrison noted arrivals will still be capped in other states “because of the vaccination levels in those places”. | Although vaccinated travellers will be able to arrive in New South Wales without quarantine, Morrison noted arrivals will still be capped in other states “because of the vaccination levels in those places”. |
| In response, Qantas has moved forward the resumption of international travel by two weeks, announcing it will operate up to five return flights a week from Sydney to London and up to four a week from Sydney to Los Angeles from 1 November. | In response, Qantas has moved forward the resumption of international travel by two weeks, announcing it will operate up to five return flights a week from Sydney to London and up to four a week from Sydney to Los Angeles from 1 November. |
| Nevertheless, travellers leaving Australia will face uncertainty about which ports they can return to other than Sydney and when other states will follow NSW’s lead on quarantine-free travel. Victoria is the most likely to do so when the double-dose vaccination rate reaches 80% in early November. | Nevertheless, travellers leaving Australia will face uncertainty about which ports they can return to other than Sydney and when other states will follow NSW’s lead on quarantine-free travel. Victoria is the most likely to do so when the double-dose vaccination rate reaches 80% in early November. |
| Read more of Paul Karp’s report here: All Australians able to travel overseas from November, says Morrison as he lifts travel ban | Read more of Paul Karp’s report here: All Australians able to travel overseas from November, says Morrison as he lifts travel ban |
| UK transport minister Grant Shapps has been doing the media round this morning, and on Times Radio he was asked about the new policy of allowing travellers returning to England to take lateral flow tests instead of PCR tests. PA Media reports he said: | UK transport minister Grant Shapps has been doing the media round this morning, and on Times Radio he was asked about the new policy of allowing travellers returning to England to take lateral flow tests instead of PCR tests. PA Media reports he said: |