Covid-19: test all health and care workers once or twice a week, says top UK scientist

MPs hear ministers were told in April that systematic testing was essential to keep staff safe

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All health and care staff should be routinely tested for Covid-19 once or twice a week, according to one of the UK's most eminent scientists, Sir Paul Nurse, whose team's research has shown that 45% were infected with coronavirus at the peak of the pandemic in England of whom 40% showed no symptoms.

Giving evidence to the Commons health and social care select committee, Nurse, who turned the Crick Institute he heads into a testing laboratory, said it had told ministers that frequent, routine testing was essential to ensure the safety of health and care staff and give the public the confidence to go into hospitals.