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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Rebecca Thomas and Samuel Lovett

Fears over UK ability to tackle variants as Covid testing is scrapped

United Kingdom Covid-19 UKHSA NHS
AFP via Getty Images

Ministers are scrapping a Covid testing programme that can quickly identify new variants, The Independent can reveal – with scientists warning the move could leave the UK vulnerable to further mutations in the virus.

An arm of the government’s testing programme, which provides Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (Lamp) tests, is due to be wound down by June 2022, a leaked letter from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has shown.

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