Mass-testing project in Liverpool offers hope for the whole of England

City's pilot scheme stops hundreds who have Covid without symptoms from unwittingly spreading the virus

Rapid testing is detecting large numbers of people in Liverpool with Covid who have no symptoms, the city's officials have said.

Nearly a quarter of positive tests in the past seven days were discovered by the lateral-flow-testing pilot scheme, and Liverpool's mayor, Joe Anderson, said it had played a role in reducing the spread of the virus.