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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Samuel Lovett,Rebecca Thomas and Chloe O'Connor

Scientists warn public health at risk as leading Covid surveillance programme ends

AFP via Getty Images

Ministers will be left in the dark on Covid spikes just as case numbers reach unprecedented levels if a “world-beating” surveillance programme is scrapped, scientists have warned.

The React-1 study, which played a crucial role in detecting and tracking the spread of the Alpha variant in December 2020 ahead of the second lockdown, has been stopped as part of the government's plan to cut its Covid costs.

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