Covid Action UK calls on the Covid Inquiry to get to the bottom of the issue.

Covid Action UK welcomes the Independent Inquiry’s next module on Test, Trace and Isolate. For centuries Test, Trace and Isolate has been the bedrock of identifying and responding to infectious diseases, whether it’s the mediaeval leper colonies or plague villages such as  Eyam, in the Peak District, whose villagers responded to the 1665-1666 plague outbreak by quarantining themselves to prevent the disease from spreading to neighbouring communities, a decision that became a symbol of their courage and self-sacrifice.

The Tory Government’s attitude to Test, Trace and Isolate was far from a symbol of self-sacrifice. They turned their backs on the public health experts in local government to set up an outsourced, centralised money pit, which gobbled up a staggering £36 billion of our money.

Private corporations with no relevant experience were handed billions, yet failed to deliver a functional service, while their profits soared. There was no meaningful support for people self-isolating, meaning many people struggled to stay home and not go to work.

Covid is still with us, but testing is rare and tracing non-existent. The lack of testing means that there is little data to assess the real extent of Covid or whether more virulent and infectious variants are evolving.

“NHS Test and Trace is one of the many scandals of the Tory government’s handling of the Covid pandemic emergency,” Covid Action’s Joan Twelves said. “The Inquiry must get to the bottom of where all those billions went and ensure that lessons are learnt so that, in the event of any future pandemics, public health professionals are provided with the resources and support to implement an efficient and effective test and trace system which drives down transmission and saves lives.”

COVID ACTION UK is a grassroots, activist campaign of individuals and affiliated labour and trade union organisations who came together in November 2020 to challenge the then UK government’s approach to the pandemic. Website: https://covidaction.uk/ Module 7 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Public Hearings is on Test, Trace and Isolate and runs from 12th-30th May 2025 at Dorland House, London W2 6BU.

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