Just HOW badly has the Wolverhampton Covid lab testing blunder affected ...

Just HOW badly has the Wolverhampton Covid lab testing blunder affected ...
Just HOW badly has the Wolverhampton Covid lab testing blunder affected ...

A testing blunder at a disgraced Covid laboratory in the South West of England led to thousands of avoidable infections and may trigger a fresh wave in the region, experts warned today. 

Up to 43,000 infected people were incorrectly told their PCR results were negative due to 'technical issues' at a private facility run by Immensa Health Clinic in Wolverhampton, where workers were filmed playing football and wrestling on shift. 

The affected patients, mostly concentrated in the South West, were given the false negatives between September 8 and October 12 — allowing the virus to continue spreading unrestricted within the region.

According to data from the Government's Covid dashboard, case rates in the South West have doubled in recent days after the error was spotted and five of the 10 worst-hit areas in England are now in the region. 

Dr Rupert Beale, an eminent virologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, described the scandal as the 'worst f***-up' this year by some distance'.

Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he believed the faulty test results were 'having an impact' on case rates and estimated the error led to thousands of avoidable infections. 

A total of 32,815 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in the South West in the seven days to October 15 — the equivalent of 579.9 per 100,000 people. This is up from 16,910 cases, or 298.8 in the previous seven days.

Bath and North East Somerset is now the Covid capital of England, with cases almost tripling in that time to reach levels twice as high as seen during the darkest spell of the second wave in January. It's recording 877.5 infections per 100,000 people now, compared to 260.7 the week prior.

There are concerns the testing error has come at the worst possible time, with national infection levels approaching peak-second-wave levels and the country's booster programme struggling to get off the mark as the country heads towards a harsh winter.

Experts have also warned of a subvariant of the Delta Covid strain which could be even more infectious than the already viciously-virulent virus. The new 'Nu' variant is making up one in 10 cases in Britain now, data suggests.

According to data from the Government's Covid dashboard, case rates in the South West (shown in black) have doubled in recent days. Experts say that while some of this will be the result of retests, it's 'extremely' likely the testing blunder is behind the rise

According to data from the Government's Covid dashboard, case rates in the South West (shown in black) have doubled in recent days. Experts say that while some of this will be the result of retests, it's 'extremely' likely the testing blunder is behind the rise

Bath and North East Somerset is now the Covid capital of England, with cases almost tripling in that time. It's recording 877.5 infections per 100,000 people now compared to 260.7 the week prior

Bath and North East Somerset is now the Covid capital of England, with cases almost tripling in that time. It's recording 877.5 infections per 100,000 people now compared to 260.7 the week prior

Somerset West & Taunton currently has the second highest rate in the UK, up from 365.5 to 872.5 - its highest rate ever during the pandemic

Somerset West & Taunton currently has the second highest rate in the UK, up from 365.5 to 872.5 - its highest rate ever during the pandemic

Other areas in the South West recording sharp increases include Cheltenham (138.7 to 773.9)

Other areas in the South West recording sharp increases include Cheltenham (138.7 to 773.9) 

Stroud's rate surged from 143.1 to 782.4 in the week to October 15

Stroud's rate surged from 143.1 to 782.4 in the week to October 15

Mendip rounds out the five areas in the South West that account for half of the worst-hit areas in England

 Mendip rounds out the five areas in the South West that account for half of the worst-hit areas in England

Professor Hunter estimated that up to 8,000 people will have caught the disease from a person given the wrong result, based on rough estimates about the number of people who isolate when they're unwell, regardless of PCR result. But he added: 'It could be more, there are still several key unknowns here.'  

Somerset West & Taunton currently has the second highest rate in the UK, up from 365.5 to 872.5.

Other areas in the South West recording sharp increases include Stroud (from 143.1 to 782.4), Cheltenham (138.7 to 773.9) and Tewkesbury (95.2 to 691.3). 

Professor Kit Yates, a senior lecturer in mathematical biology at the University of Bath, said that while some of the new cases will be the result of retests, it's 'extremely likely' many are the direct result of people not isolating. 

The only local authority in the region not recording a rise in the latest figures is Exeter, where the rate has dropped slightly from 339.0 to 313.5. 

Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali told MailOnline that the South West was particularly vulnerable to a blunder like the one at the Immensa Health Clinic Ltd lab in Wolverhampton because of lower levels of natural immunity in the region.

Employees at Immensa Health Clinic in Wolverhampton were filmed fighting with each other (pictured) in January. This was at the height of the first wave and when the country was in strict lockdown

Employees at Immensa Health Clinic in Wolverhampton were filmed fighting with each other (pictured) in January. This was at the height of the first wave and when the country was in strict lockdown

They were also recorded playing football together at the testing centre while on duty

They were also recorded playing football together at the testing centre while on duty

Immensa Health Clinic, in Wolverhampton, has been suspended following an investigation revealing it may have incorrectly processed PCR tests. The lab (pictured) has been paid £120million by the taxpayer for its services

Immensa Health Clinic, in Wolverhampton, has been suspended following an investigation revealing it may have

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