‘Pandemic is not over’: ministers criticised for scrapping UK Covid surveillance

Schemes coming to an end is yet another example of short-term thinking'

Ministers have been accused of turning off the headlights at the first sign of dawn" after scrapping nationwide Covid surveillance programmes, with scientists saying it will almost certainly end up costing more money in the long run.

Last week, scientists announced that the React study - which randomly tests about 150,000 people across England each month to see how many are infected with coronavirus - will be scrapped at the end of March, and no further data will be collected beyond that point.