Covid-19: An efficient and effective test trace regime is not a numbers game.

We need a targeted testing strategy, not a blunderbuss, say Maggie Rae and Ellis Friedma n The government’s “moonshot” plan to test millions of people daily for covid-19 risks repeating the mistakes of the early days of test and trace. The ambition to deliver a further substantial increase in testing is welcome, but as the push for 100 000 daily tests exposed, an efficient and effective test and trace regime is not a numbers game. Testing is not a medical intervention and on its own does nothing to control the disease. It only has value if the test is reliable and a positive test triggers a quick and effective response, which means immediately tracing the contacts of the infected person, investigating the source of their infection, and effectively preventing further …