COVID-19
Global Covid cases top 128 million
The Covid situation is worsening around the world with each passing day. In fact, the overall number of corona cases has now surpassed 128 million.
Whilr the total case count reached 128,144,389, the death toll from the virus mounted to 2,802,066 on Wednesday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Also Read: Global Covid-19 cases surge past 127 million
The US, which remains the worst hit country both in terms of cases and deaths, has so far recorded 30,393,028 cases and 550,955 deaths, as per the university data.
Brazil on Tuesday registered the highest daily count of 3,780 Covid-19 deaths in the past 24 hours, the country's ministry of health said.
The latest figure has raised the nationwide death toll to 317,646 since Brazil's first case was detected on February 26, 2020.
Also Read: Global Covid-19 cases top 126.6 million
In addition, 84,494 new cases have been recorded, bringing the national count to 12,658,109.
Brazil is currently one of the countries hardest hit by Covid-19 worldwide in terms of both deaths and infections, second only to the United States.
Currently, the country is seeing 6,023 cases with 151 deaths per 100,000 citizens.
India has registered 12,095,855 cases as of Wednesday morning, with 162,114 deaths, as per the official data.
Situation in Bangladesh
Coronavirus fatalities in Bangladesh rose to 8994 on Tuesday after health authorities recorded 45 more deaths in the past 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
Besides, 5,042 more people were diagnosed with coronavirus, pushing up the total caseload to 6,05,937, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said in a handout.
The cases were reported after testing of 26,620 samples, the handout said.
It said the infection rate jumped to 18.94 percent on Tuesday from 18.38 percent on Monday. However, the mortality rate slipped slightly to 1.48 percent.
During the 24-hour period, 2,162 coronavirus patients recovered, taking the total number of recovered patients to 54,0180.
Bangladesh reported its first cases on March 8, 2020, and the first death on March 18 the same year.
In the wake of a fresh surge in the Covid-19 infections, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Monday issued an 18-point directive in an effort to contain the spread of coronavirus in Bangladesh.
"The Health Ministry has also proposed partial lockdowns for some places with higher coronavirus transmission rates," Health Minister Zahid Maleque said Monday.
Partial lockdown, closure of amusement centres, picnic spots, religious gatherings, limiting wedding ceremonies, strengthening quarantine system, limiting passengers in public transport, and limiting attendance in offices are some of the recommendations.
The ministry has also proposed ensuring a ‘no mask, no service’ policy, increasing the number of mobile courts and imposing fines on health guideline violators.
Bangladesh on Monday recorded its highest-ever single day infection (5,181) since the first cases were reported on March 8 last year.
WHO team: More studies needed of virus origin
Members of an international team that wrote a study into the origins of COVID-19 with Chinese colleagues say it is only a "first start" and more needs to be done.
They appealed for patience as reams of information continues to pour in. The team emphasized that hypotheses, including a possible laboratory leak theory, cannot be fully ruled out.
Team leader Peter Ben Embarek of the World Health Organization says its members remain "open-minded" as it formally presented its long-awaited first-phase look into the possible outbreak the coronavirus. The virus has left nearly 2.8 million people dead and damaged economies and livelihoods since it first emerged in China.
Ben Embarek says international team members faced political pressure from "all sides," but insisted "We were never pressured to remove critical elements in our report." He also pointed to "privacy" issues in China that prevented sharing of some data, saying such restrictions would exist in many countries.
Joined by several other members of the 17-member international team for a news conference, Ben Embarek says, "where we did not have full access to all the raw data we wanted, that has been put as a recommendation for the future studies."
Ben Embarek says it was difficult to know when -- if at all -- the exact origin of the pandemic will come to light. He says one hypothesis, pushed hard by the Trump administration, that the virus may have leaked from a laboratory wasn't likely, but "not impossible" either.
World leaders call for pandemic treaty, but short on details
More than 20 heads of government and global agencies called in a commentary published Tuesday for an international treaty for pandemic preparedness that they say will protect future generations in the wake of COVID-19.
But there were few details to explain how such an agreement might actually compel countries to act more cooperatively.
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and leaders including Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, Premier Mario Draghi of Italy and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda proposed "a renewed collective commitment" to reinforce preparedness and response systems by leveraging the U.N. health agency's constitution.
"The world cannot afford to wait until the pandemic is over to start planning for the next one," Tedros said during a news conference. He said the treaty would provide "a framework for international cooperation and solidarity" and address issues like surveillance systems and responding to outbreaks.
International regulations governing health and implemented by WHO already exist — and can be disregarded by countries with few consequences. Despite an obligation for nations to share critical epidemic data and materials quickly with WHO, for example, China declined to do so when the coronavirus first broke out.
And with no enforcement powers, WHO officials had little means of compelling them to share details, an AP investigation last year found.
Steven Solomon, WHO's principal legal officer, said the proposed pandemic treaty would need to be ratified by lawmakers in the participating countries.
"Specifics about enforcement will be up to member states to decide on," Solomon said.
European Council President Charles Michel first laid out the idea of a pandemic treaty at the U.N. General Assembly in December. Joining Tedros at Tuesday's briefing, Michel said the global community needs to "build a pandemic defense for future generations that extends far beyond today's crisis. For this, we must translate the political will into concrete actions."
Gian Luca Burci, a former WHO legal counsel who is now a professor at the Graduate Institute of international affairs in Geneva, described the proposal as an attempted "big fix" involving information sharing, preparedness and response, saying the concept is "like a Christmas tree, frankly."
"But to me, the risk is that it diverts attention from the tool that we have" — WHO's existing International Health Regulations, Burci said recently. He said his fear was those regulations would get short shrift and receive "cosmetic improvements, but fundamentally remain a weak instrument."
Although the 25 signatories of the commentary called for "solidarity," and greater "societal commitment," there was no indication any country would soon change its own approach to responding to the pandemic. China, Russia and the United States didn't join in signing the statement.
WHO legal officer Solomon said the pandemic treaty might also address issues such as the sharing of vaccine technology and vaccine supplies, but gave no indication how that might happen. Despite WHO's calls for patents to be waived during the pandemic, rich countries have continued to oppose efforts by poor countries to compel them to share vaccine manufacturing technology.
Tedros pleaded with rich countries last week to immediately donate 10 million COVID-19 vaccines so that immunization campaigns could start in all countries within the first 100 days of the year. Not a single country has yet publicly offered to share its vaccines immediately. Of the more than 459 million vaccines administered globally, the majority have been in just 10 countries — and 28% in just one. WHO didn't identify the countries.
No step in sight to tackle Covid transmission: BNP
Though the coronavirus transmission has been surging alarmingly in the country, the government has no visible steps to contain the pace of outbreak of the deadly virus, BNP alleged on Tuesday.
“Corona infection is growing alarmingly. We saw an 18-point directive was issued yesterday (Monday), but the government has not taken any visible step to implement it,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.
The BNP leader said there is a false campaign that the government is effectively tackling the Covid situation. “The fact is that they (govt) can’t control the virus, but they’re lying. The government should have a strong campaign and effective steps to enforce the 18-point directive, but it's missing.”
He accused the government of hiding the facts and data about the real Covid situation in the country and not conducting adequate tests to quickly identify the infected people.
“People are not getting adequate opportunities to undergo tests not only in Dhaka, but also elsewhere in Bangladesh. The government is fully responsible for this situation. They never realised the importance of creating a national unity to overcome the pandemic,” he observed.
Stating that using masks is essential to prevent the virus outbreak, the BNP leader said people are showing apathy to it as the government has failed to motivate them and create awareness among them in this regard through a mass campaign.
He said the government did not suspend different state programmes relating to the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman though the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) had warned of deterioration in Covid situation.
Fakhrul alleged that the government is not taking proper steps to get rid of the corona outbreak as it is not accountable to people. “This government is not elected by people’s votes. An unelected government can’t have any responsibility towards people.”
He said the government’s main target is now to ‘hang onto’ power by any means and ‘plunder’ public money.
German cities suspend AstraZeneca vaccine use for under-60s
Authorities in Berlin and Munich are again suspending the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for residents under age 60 due to new reports of unusual blood clots in people who recently received the shots, officials said Tuesday.
The action was taken as a precaution ahead of a meeting later Tuesday of representatives from Germany’s 16 states and further recommendations expected from national medical regulators, said Berlin’s top health official, Dilek Kalayci.
Also Read: Sweden is latest country to stop using AstraZeneca vaccine
The decision came after the country’s medical regulator announced that it had received a total of 31 reports of rare blood clots in recent recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Nine of the people died and all but two of the cases involved women aged 20 to 63, the Paul Ehrlich Institute said.
Also Read: Major European nations suspend use of AstraZeneca vaccine
Reports of an unusual form of blood clot in the head, known as sinus vein thrombosis, prompted several European countries to temporarily halt the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this month. After a review by medical experts, the European Medicines Agency concluded the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks.
Also Read: Canada pauses AstraZeneca vaccine for under 55
At the same time, the agency recommended that warnings about possible rare side effects should be provided to patients and doctors. Most European Union countries, including Germany, resumed use of the vaccine.
Earlier Tuesday, two state-owned hospitals in Berlin announced that they had stopped giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to female staff members under 55. The heads of five university hospitals in western Germany called for a temporary halt to the vaccine for all younger women, citing the blood clot risk.
Kalayci, the Berlin state health minister, said the suspension of AstraZeneca vaccines for younger people was done as a precaution.
“We have not had a case of serious side effects in Berlin yet,” she said, adding that all of those who had received the AstraZeneca shot already could rest assured that it provides good protection against the coronavirus.
“Still, we need to treat it carefully and wait for the talks taking place at the federal level,” said Kalayci.
The decision could affect appointments for tens of thousands of teachers and people with preexisting conditions who received invitations to get vaccinated in Germany’s capital in recent days.
German news agency dpa quoted a spokesman for Munich, the country’s third-largest city, saying that the suspension of AstraZeneca vaccinations for people younger than 60 would last “until issue of possible vaccine complications for this group of persons has been resolved.”
Some 2.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered across the whole of Germany so far.
Some other European countries remain hesitant about giving the AstraZeneca shot to older people. In Madrid, residents ages 60 to 65 started receiving the vaccine Tuesday ahead of those between the ages of 66 and 79 because Spanish authorities have not yet reviewed new data provided by AstraZeneca about how well it works in the older age group.
Spain is currently using the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for people over 80 years old.
Spanish health authorities have said that they are hoping to speed up the rollout of vaccines with the arrival of the jab developed by the pharmaceutical company Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, which has also been approved for use in Europe and requires one shot only.
Authorities in Berlin and Munich are again suspending the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for residents under age 60 due to new reports of unusual blood clots in people who recently received the shots, officials said Tuesday.
The action was taken as a precaution ahead of a meeting later Tuesday of representatives from Germany’s 16 states and further recommendations expected from national medical regulators, said Berlin’s top health official, Dilek Kalayci.
The decision came after the country’s medical regulator announced that it had received a total of 31 reports of rare blood clots in recent recipients of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Nine of the people died and all but two of the cases involved women aged 20 to 63, the Paul Ehrlich Institute said.
Reports of an unusual form of blood clot in the head, known as sinus vein thrombosis, prompted several European countries to temporarily halt the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this month. After a review by medical experts, the European Medicines Agency concluded the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risks.
At the same time, the agency recommended that warnings about possible rare side effects should be provided to patients and doctors. Most European Union countries, including Germany, resumed use of the vaccine.
Earlier Tuesday, two state-owned hospitals in Berlin announced that they had stopped giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to female staff members under 55. The heads of five university hospitals in western Germany called for a temporary halt to the vaccine for all younger women, citing the blood clot risk.
Kalayci, the Berlin state health minister, said the suspension of AstraZeneca vaccines for younger people was done as a precaution.
“We have not had a case of serious side effects in Berlin yet,” she said, adding that all of those who had received the AstraZeneca shot already could rest assured that it provides good protection against the coronavirus.
“Still, we need to treat it carefully and wait for the talks taking place at the federal level,” said Kalayci.
The decision could affect appointments for tens of thousands of teachers and people with preexisting conditions who received invitations to get vaccinated in Germany’s capital in recent days.
German news agency dpa quoted a spokesman for Munich, the country’s third-largest city, saying that the suspension of AstraZeneca vaccinations for people younger than 60 would last “until issue of possible vaccine complications for this group of persons has been resolved.”
Some 2.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been administered across the whole of Germany so far.
Some other European countries remain hesitant about giving the AstraZeneca shot to older people. In Madrid, residents ages 60 to 65 started receiving the vaccine Tuesday ahead of those between the ages of 66 and 79 because Spanish authorities have not yet reviewed new data provided by AstraZeneca about how well it works in the older age group.
Spain is currently using the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for people over 80 years old.
Spanish health authorities have said that they are hoping to speed up the rollout of vaccines with the arrival of the jab developed by the pharmaceutical company Janssen, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, which has also been approved for use in Europe and requires one shot only.
Asia, Pacific must avoid K-shaped recovery: UN report
The Asia-Pacific region needs large, yet attainable, investments in resilience to protect development gains amid a fragile and inequitable post-COVID-19 economic recovery, says a report released on Tuesday.
The report was released by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok.
Also Read: ADB forecasts developing Asian economies in recession
The Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2021: Towards post-COVID-19 resilient economies forecasts that, on average, developing Asia-Pacific economies are expected to grow by 5.9 per cent in 2021 and 5 per cent in 2022, after having experienced an estimated contraction of 1 per cent in 2020.
Despite a reasonably strong rebound expected in 2021, a “K-shaped recovery” is likely, with poorer countries and more vulnerable groups marginalized in the post-pandemic recovery and transition period.
The Survey estimates that because of the pandemic, an additional 89 million people in the region could have been pushed back into extreme poverty in 2020 at the $1.90 per day threshold, erasing years of progress in poverty reduction.
Working-hour losses in 2020 equaled 140 million full-time jobs, while severe disruptions of economic activity and education are likely to have caused a significant setback to human capital accumulation and productivity in the region.
For a more robust and inclusive recovery, the Survey calls for a more synchronized COVID-19 vaccination programme across countries and highlights opportunities to leverage regional cooperation.
At the same time, it recommends that fiscal and monetary support should be sustained, as premature tightening could increase long-term scars.
“COVID-19 is a shock like no other and it requires a response like no other,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP.
“The time is now for the Asia-Pacific region to seize this opportunity to speed up and make its transition towards more resilient, equitable, and green development the centerpiece of the post-pandemic economic recovery.”
Looking beyond the pandemic, the Survey examines the broader risk landscape facing Asia-Pacific countries, including epidemics, natural disasters and financial crises.
It finds that adverse shocks, both economic and non-economic, result in permanent economic, social and environmental losses, and advises countries to take a more comprehensive approach to building resilience against future shocks.
Specifically, the Survey proposes a “build forward better” policy package for resilient post-COVID-19 economies that aims to ensure universal access to healthcare and social protection, close the digital divide and strengthen climate and clean energy actions.
It estimates that the package would reduce the number of people living in poverty in the region by almost 180 million people and cut carbon emissions by about 30 per cent in the long run.
Notably, the package would result in a modest fiscal and debt burden if accompanied by bold policy actions, such as ending fossil fuel subsidies and introducing a carbon tax.
Among other potential financing solutions, the Survey also recommends debt swaps-for-development initiatives for countries with special needs and those with limited fiscal space.
It also calls for international assistance to least developed countries burdened with significant “resilience gaps.”
For his part, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has recommended in a policy brief on Preventing Debt Crises In the Era of COVID-19 and Beyond: The Time to Act is Now, that countries address immediate liquidity constraints; debt overhangs and creating space for investment in crisis response, the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action; and reformation of the international debt architecture.
In conclusion, the Survey recommends that countries in the region should respond aggressively to adverse shocks to minimize the reversal of hard-won development gains. Swift and robust policy responses are needed to safeguard sustainable development in crisis times, and risk management must become central to development planning and policymaking.
Produced annually since 1947, the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific is the oldest United Nations report on the region’s progress.
The Survey provides analyses to guide policy discussion on the current and emerging socio-economic issues and policy challenges to support inclusive and sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Covid-19: Bangladesh records 5000+ cases for 2nd consecutive day
Bangladesh on Tuesday recorded over 5,000 new coronavirus cases for the second straight day, signalling a tough fight ahead for the country as people are still reluctant about following basic health guidelines.
With 5,042 new cases in a 24-hour period until morning, the caseload rose to 605,937, according to a handout of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Meanwhile, the coronavirus fatalities climbed to 8,994 with 45 more deaths recorded until morning.
Bangladesh reported its first coronavirus cases on March 8 last year and the first death on the 18th of that month.
The DGHS said the infection rate jumped to 18.94 percent from 18.38 percent on Monday when Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever single day case count (5,181).
During the 24-hour period, 2,162 coronavirus patients recovered, taking the total number of recovered patients to 540,180.
The government has ramped up testing, intensified vaccination campaign and efforts to ensure that the people properly follow health guidelines and hygiene rules.
So far, 4,643,645 samples have been tested – including 26,620 in the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.
Dhaka sees highest Covid deaths
The mortality rate slipped slightly to 1.48 percent on Tuesday.
Among the deceased, 37 people died in Dhaka division, three in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, two in Khulna and one in Sylhet.
So far, 5,118 coronavirus patients died in Dhaka division, 1,631 in Chattogram, 501 in Rajshahi, 579 in Khulna, 273 in Barishal, 318 in Sylhet, 373 in Rangpur and 201 in Mymensingh.
14-day institutional quarantine mandatory for travellers from European countries: CAAB
The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Tuesday made 14-day institutional quarantine mandatory for travelers from European countries including the United Kingdom.
The CAAB issued a circular in this regard which will be effective from Wednesday (March 31, 2021).
As per the circular, on arrival in Bangladesh, all passengers returning from any European country including the UK will have to complete 14-day institutional quarantine at government facilities or government-approved hotels at passengers’ own expenses.
Also read: Now restrictions lifted on domestic flights: CAAB
Upon completion of the quarantine period, the Covid-19 PCR test will be carried out and the passenger will be released if the test result is negative.
Besides, passengers traveling from other countries except Europe and UK have to strictly complete a 14-day home quarantine if no covid-19 symptoms are found on arrival health check in Bangladesh.
But if any Covid-19 symptoms are detected he/she have to complete 14-day institutional quarantine at government facilities or government-approved hotels at his/her own expenses.
Also read: Migrant workers’ protests: CAAB permits operation of more Saudi Airlines flights
Irrespective of the Covid-19 vaccination, all passengers coming to Bangladesh shall mandatorily possess and show PCR based Covid-19 negative certificate during departure from origin or arrival at the airport.
The PCR test shall be done within 72 hours of the flight departure time.
UN-Habitat calls for post COVID-19 cities to lead the way to a healthier future
A new report on pandemics and cities from UN-Habitat, points the way to how hard-hit urban centres can reduce the impact of future outbreaks and become more equitable, healthy and environmentally friendly.
‘Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future’, launched on Tuesday, describes how urban areas have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis.
“95 per cent of all cases” were recorded in cities in the first months of the pandemic, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UN-Habitat Executive Director, said.
Also read: UN Chief for ensuring equitable distribution of Covid-19 vaccine
Cities on the frontline
“Throughout this pandemic, it has been up to local governments and communities to move quickly and decisively to stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure an effective response,” Ms. Sharif added.
Despite these pressures, many local governments and community leaders responded quickly and effectively to prevent the spread of the pandemic and mitigate its effects.
The UN-Habitat report recommends actions for a sustainable recovery based on evidence from more than 1,700 cities.
Life and death inequalities
It found that patterns of inequality, due to a lack of access to basic services, poverty and overcrowded living conditions, have been key destabilising factors in increasing the scale and impact of COVID-19.
Eduardo Moreno, Head of Knowledge and Innovation at UN-Habitat, said that due to the pandemic, an estimated “120 million people in the world will be pushed into poverty and living standards will reduce by 23 per cent”.
“The conclusion is that income matters”, he added.
According to the text, urban leaders and planners must rethink how people move through and in cities, using lessons learned from the last year of COVID-19.
This includes an increased focus at the local level on planning neighbourhoods and communities that are multi-functional and inclusive.
Also read: UN chief calls for action to ensure human rights for all
Planning, affordability
The report explores how well-planned cities combining residential and commercial with public spaces, along with affordable housing, can improve public health, the local economy and the environment.
It calls for cities to be at the forefront of moves towards a Social Contract between governments, the public, civil society and private sector.
The new social contract should “explore the role of the state and cities to finance universal basic income, universal health insurance, universal housing”, said Sharif.
For one real-world example, Claudia Lopez Hernandez, Mayor of Bogota, explained how in the Colombian capital, their new social contract prioritises women and children.
It is a “social contract that includes women, that provides them with time, with time to take care of themselves, with time to educate themselves, and with time and education skills to come back to the labour market”.
“To have self-sustainable women is to have self-sustainable societies”, Hernandez explained.
Also read: UN chief calls for immediate attention to 3 global emergencies
New priorities
The Report outlines how a new normal can emerge in cities “where health, housing and security are prioritised for the most vulnerable, not only out of social necessity, but also from a profound commitment to human rights for all.”
This requires governments to focus on policies to protect land rights, improve access to water, sanitation, public transport, electricity, health and education facilities and ensure inclusive digital connectivity.
The Report recommends strengthening access to municipal finance to enable city leaders to build a new urban economy that reduces disaster risk as well as addressing climate change by developing nature-based solutions and investing in sustainable infrastructure to enable low carbon transport.
The Cities and Pandemics Report makes it clear that the way urban environments recover from the pandemic, will have a major impact on the global effort to achieve a sustainable future for all – in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Covid-19: Secret filming exposes contamination risk at test results lab
Secret filming at one of the biggest UK Covid testing labs has found evidence of potential contamination, discarded tests and pressure to hit targets.
A BBC reporter working as a lab technician, filmed staff cutting corners and processing samples in a way that could cause contamination.
This means some people who had taken a test via NHS Test and Trace may have received no result or a wrong result.
The lab said it had followed all necessary rules and regulations.
Also read: UK variant hunters lead global race to stay ahead of COVID
Evidence at the lab captured on film shows:
· Checks to ensure samples could be identified, were rushed, meaning tests were sometimes discarded unnecessarily
· Some test samples "glooped" across an area where other samples had been placed, risking contamination
· Swabs used by people to take Covid tests were left in their tubes when processed, presenting a further contamination risk
· A quality control scientist telling the reporter that the quality of the results progressively got worse throughout the day
The findings have led experts to question the way the lab was operating.
One expert described a scene from the undercover footage where a technician wipes up a sample with a tissue as "crazy".
"[T]here is almost zero question," said Chris Denning, director of the University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, that this "would lead to contamination".
Another expert, who used to run a company doing millions of PCR tests, said "You cannot run a service like this."
"[T]here are ways of making things faster," said Phil Robinson, "and it's not by doing things at lower quality."
Missed checks
The government has spent more than £1bn building a network of laboratories to process tests as part of NHS Test and Trace.
The lab in Milton Keynes is run by not-for-profit company UK Biocentre and is one of seven so-called Lighthouse laboratories brought on stream by Number 10.
Allegations of poor working practices at the lab were first highlighted by the BBC in October 2020..
UK Biocentre at the time said it was "already addressing observations". But months after, sources told the BBC's Panorama programme about continued poor practice.
Reporter Jacqui Wakefield worked 18 shifts undercover in January and February to investigate.
She joined one of four teams of technicians preparing and processing PCR test samples.
Reporter Jacqui Wakefield
The Milton Keynes lab handles test-and-trace samples from members of the public.
It can process 70,000 coronavirus tests per day, but while Wakefield was there it was usually between 18,000 and 40,000.
Despite being in the midst of the second wave of coronavirus, the lab technicians the reporter worked with sat idle for significant periods of their shifts.
But technicians worked to targets regardless of the number of sample arriving in any 24-hour period.
At the sorting stage where tubes containing people's Covid test samples were removed from bags, checks to ensure they are traceable were sometimes rushed.
This is the start of the testing process.
Each sample should arrive with a barcode on both the bag and the sample tube inside, meaning that if the tube itself is missing a barcode, the one on the bag can be used.
But the Panorama film shows a sample tube without a barcode, being discarded due to the bag having already been thrown away.
It meant the person who had taken the test would then have to take another.
The reporter spoke to colleagues on each of her shifts who told her this happened regularly.
The lab told Panorama it is essential people get results quickly, and to ensure staff can work to the laboratory's standard capacity.
Also read: The superspreaders behind top COVID-19 conspiracy theories
Liquid handling robots
Wakefield also filmed a number of practices at the lab which experts said could cause contamination, raising questions over the reliability of test results being sent out.
After they are sorted, samples are sent to liquid handling robots at the heart of the mass testing process.
Graphic explaining the contamination risk at auto-pipetting stage
The robot's pipettes automatically dip into eight tubes at a time, suck up a small portion from each and then deposit these on a testing plate, where they are later analysed for the presence of the virus that causes Covid-19.
To save time, swabs used by people to take their tests, were left inside their tubes, rather than being removed by hand first, when processed. On occasion, these swabs were caught by the robot's pipettes, lifted out and, sometimes, fell across other samples, potentially contaminating them.
The laboratory said if contamination is suspected the run must be stopped, the system cleaned down and a new run started from scratch.
However, while some technicians did pause the machine, Wakefield filmed others pushing the swabs back into their tubes with a gloved hand. Experts said this too could cause contamination.
Watching the evidence, Prof Denning said: "If a solution has got a full infection… of millions of particles and you start bouncing this around, naturally, little droplets are going to spray off in all different directions."
Some samples are much thicker than others because of mucus, and these also present a contamination risk because of the way they are sometimes handled in the Milton Keynes lab.
Wakefield saw these thicker samples regularly hanging off robot pipette tips and dripping across other samples when being transferred to the testing plate.
Wakefield filmed technicians continuing to process the plates, with one attempting to salvage a plate by simply wiping it with a tissue.
"What you're seeing here is absolutely crazy," said Prof Denning. "There is almost zero question that this would lead to contamination."
The lab said there may have been isolated mistakes by "individual staff", but this should be seen in the context of a facility that has gone from zero to testing 11 million people in a matter of months.
Also read: Understanding viral mutation: The UK variant in layman’s terms
'Industry best practice'
After tests are completed, results are checked by the lab's biomedical scientists who are responsible for quality control.
The reporter spoke at length to three of the scientists, and while she was told by one that management wanted to improve quality at the lab, two told her they see hundreds of samples on testing plates they think are contaminated.
One frustrated scientist told her that the quality of the results were often better at the start of each shift, saying things got progressively worse and that by the last hour of the day, "half of the plate is garbage".
UK Biocentre said its "test positive rate" closely tracks the UK's average, providing reassurance its results are robust and trustworthy.
It said Panorama's findings were "an incomplete and selective" representation of its efforts, and it had been "operating under a unique period of pressure" because of the second wave of the pandemic.
It has contributed significantly to the pandemic response, it said, operates "in line with industry best practice", and has been recommended for accreditation by the regulator.
The government said it demands the highest standards, takes "concerns extremely seriously" and "will be fully investigating all the allegations that have been made".