Public health officials in Greater Manchester do not currently know how many people are testing positive for Covid-19 in the region - due to a ‘log jam’ in getting information from the national system.
Confusion over laboratory use and a breakdown in data-sharing with government means the results of tests carried out at commercial operations such as the drive-through at Manchester Airport, or in some cases in care homes, are not being communicated back to local health bodies.
The situation has arisen in the past 10 days, due to conflicts between the two different testing systems that have been operating here for some time.