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Government Covid infection investigations, considered the ‘gold standard’ for virus surveillance globally, have been on hold for months.
A weekly survey published by the Office for National Statistics is the most reliable indicator of how many people in the UK have been infected with the coronavirus at one time.
It will be suspended for several months after ministers failed to confirm funding for the scheme beyond the end of this month.
I The company said in January that its future was in doubt after the government refused to confirm whether it would continue operations beyond the current fiscal year.
Contractors working on the project were told their work would be finished soon. It is understood that ONS has informed participants that they will be suspending their plans from March onwards.
Covid is no longer seen as a major threat to the NHS as it was at the height of the pandemic, but scientists say the UK could ” It warns against being left ‘blind’. There will be things that have nothing to do with Omicron.
Even a months-long pause leaves data gaps for scientists to monitor its spread.
The UK Health Security Agency said its approach to Covid-19 surveillance was “actively reviewed … balanced, cost-effective, and a range of other infections that pose similar risks to public health.” We will confirm that it is being considered in parallel with methods for monitoring disease.”
Since its launch in April 2020, ONS research has been key to identifying new variants, the spread of the virus in the community, and details of Long Covid. Over 11 million swabs and over 3 million blood tests have been analyzed.
Surveillance for positive tests in hospitalized patients and nursing homes will be put in place, and vaccination rates will continue to be monitored, but the decision will significantly reduce the ways the virus can be traced.
Professor Stephen Reilly, UKHSA’s Director for Data, Analysis and Monitoring, said: they made
“As we transition to living with Covid-19, we will continue to ensure that our surveillance activities are appropriate and cost-effective. and we and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are very much looking forward to working with them in the future.
“We remain committed to monitoring the threat posed by Covid-19 through various surveillance systems and genomics capabilities that report on infection rates, hospitalizations and risks posed by new variants.”
Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician and ONS Chief Executive, said:
“The data from this study have had an incredible impact on the country’s response to the pandemic, and its success inspires confidence in our ability to launch broader surveillance efforts in the future.
“As UKHSA works to confirm its approach to Covid-19 surveillance, we will continue to gather valuable insights on Covid-19 and other respiratory infections, as well as the long-term experience of Covid in our communities. Yes, and I look forward to continuing to work with the CIS participants.
Professor Sarah Walker, principal investigator of the study and professor of medical statistics and epidemiology at the University of Oxford, said: Thousands have attended in all four of her UK countries, including thousands of research workers who have been conducting home visits during lockdown.
“The data collected will remain invaluable for years to come to learn more about how COVID-19 infection and vaccination affect future health outcomes. “