Ministers have been criticized forignoring the fact that the pandemic is still ongoing and for scrapping the nationwide Covid surveillance programs. Scientists say that this will cost more money over the long term.

Funding will also be withdrawn from the Zoe covid symptom study, the Siren and Vivaldi studies and the CoMix social contacts survey, with mass free testing scheduled to end on 1 April. Last week, scientists said that the React study would be scrapped at the end of March, and no further data would be collected beyond that point. Only the Office for National Statistics’ Covid infection survey would continue. Earlier this month, the government announced that its Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) would no more have discussions on the pandemic.

Dr Stephen Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds, said that ending these programs would cost more in terms of disruption than saved, and the decisions would slow the country’s ability to respond and adjust to future waves. Dr Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, US, said in a warning note that the current surge could be the sign of the beginning of the 6th wave in Europe, owing to the BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron variants and the relaxation of restrictions in several countries. (The Guardian, March 13, 2022)