After weeks of battles over so-called ‘pillar two’ testing data - results from privately-run centres operated here on behalf of the government - information has started to trickle through to local authorities from Whitehall, but ministers have stopped short at telling them exactly which individuals have contracted the disease.
At this week’s weekly update on Covid in the conurbation, Mr Burnham said this was completely out of the ordinary for the way such an illness is dealt with.Covid is classed as a ‘notifiable’ disease, in the same way as meningitis, TB or food poisoning, meaning any cases by law have to be reported to the authorities.According to the government’s own website, health practitioners have a legal duty to report any.