An issue with a batch of testing chemicals meant their test results were void," a department spokesman said in an emailed statement. The laboratory error that led to the problem was an "isolated incident" and was being investigated, the statement said. The government has announced an extra 7 billion pounds ($9.31 billion) for its COVID-19 testing and contact tracing system as part of an expanded programme of mass testing. In September, nearly 16,000 positive case records were lost from the system for several days – causing a delay in contact tracing. The United Kingdom has had about 1.6 million coronavirus cases and over 57,500 deaths, according to a Reuters tally.

Source: bd News24 November 28, 2020 09:56 UTC