Explore the current state of testing and surveillance for the new Covid variant, including the temporary shutdown of previous initiatives and the mixed opinions among scientists and officials.
The UK Health Security Agency has announced plans to bring forward its autumn Covid-19 vaccination programme, and scale up testing and surveillance, after the emergence of the BA.2.86 variant. Madeleine Finlay and Ian Sample discuss where current infection rates stand, the characteristics of the new variant, and how prepared the UK is for a new wave. Help support our independent journalism at
theguardian.com/sciencepod