&nbsp;

In the year 2020, getting a medically 'positive' result on the coronavirus test has been one of the biggest nightmares for anyone. To&nbsp;add to the horror, more than 1,000 people in the UK realised they got the wrong results.

Nearly 1,300 people in the UK were inaccurately informed about having tested positive for the novel coronavirus when they were in fact healthy. The debacle took place after a British laboratory experienced an error in the government's NHS Test and Trace system,&nbsp;the Department of Health and Social Care reported.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/england-puts-major-cities-on-stringent-tier-3-restrictions-after-lockdown-345609">England puts major cities on stringent tier 3 restrictions after lockdown</a>

These falsely reported cases were the ones who had appeared for the test between November 19 and 23. "NHS Test and Trace has contacted 1,311 individuals who were incorrectly told that the result of COVID-19 tests, taken between Nov. 19 and Nov. 23, were positive. An issue with a batch of testing chemicals meant their test results were void," a statement read.

The affected people have been informed and have been asked to come back for another test in a few days. "Swift action was taken to notify those affected and they have been asked to take another test, and to continue to self-isolate if they have symptoms."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sputnik-v-can-boost-efficacy-of-astrazeneca-vaccine-russian-research-centre-345769">Sputnik V can boost efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine: Russian research centre</a>

As the matter unfurled, the authorities have started a detailed investigation into the matter to find out how did the medical experts generate false reports, and if anyone else, too, has been affected by this error. The officials have claimed that this was an "isolated incident".

Meanwhile, the government has announced an extra 7 billion pounds ($9.31 billion) for its COVID-19 testing and contact tracing system as part of an expanded programme of mass testing.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-to-allow-4000-fans-at-elite-events-in-lowest-risk-areas-345047">England to allow 4,000 fans at elite events in lowest-risk areas</a>

This is not the first time the UK health facilities have faced an error in testing programmes in the year of pandemic. In September, nearly 16,000 records of positive cases disappeared from a system causing massive delays in contact tracing.

The UK government had to initiate a second nationwide lockdown to contain the second wave of the novel coronavirus in the country — a move which did not sit well with the locals. The country has nearly&nbsp;1.6 million coronavirus cases and over 57,500 deaths.

In the year 2020, getting a medically 'positive' result on the coronavirus test has been one of the biggest nightmares for anyone. To add to the horror, more than 1,000 people in the UK realised they got the wrong results.

In the year 2020, getting a medically 'positive' result on the coronavirus test has been one of the biggest nightmares for anyone. To add to the horror, more than 1,000 people in the UK realised they got the wrong results. Nearly 1,300 people in the UK were inaccurately informed about having tested positive for the novel coronavirus when they were in fact healthy. The debacle took place after a British laboratory experienced an error in the government's NHS Test and Trace system, the Department of Health and Social Care reported. Also read| England puts major cities on stringent tier 3 restrictions after lockdown These falsely reported cases were the ones who had appeared for the test between November 19 and 23. "NHS Test and Trace has contacted 1,311 individuals who were incorrectly told that the result of COVID-19 tests, taken between Nov. 19 and Nov. 23, were positive. An issue with a batch of testing chemicals meant their test results were void," a statement read. The affected people have been informed and have been asked to come back for another test in a few days. "Swift action was taken to notify those affected and they have been asked to take another test, and to continue to self-isolate if they have symptoms." Also read| Sputnik V can boost efficacy of AstraZeneca vaccine: Russian research centre As the matter unfurled, the authorities have started a detailed investigation into the matter to find out how did the medical experts generate false reports, and if anyone else, too, has been affected by this error. The officials have claimed that this was an "isolated incident". Meanwhile, the government has announced an extra 7 billion pounds ($9.31 billion) for its COVID-19 testing and contact tracing system as part of an expanded programme of mass testing. Also read| England to allow 4,000 fans at elite events in lowest-risk areas This is not the first time the UK health facilities have faced an error in testing programmes in the year of pandemic. In September, nearly 16,000 records of positive cases disappeared from a system causing massive delays in contact tracing. The UK government had to initiate a second nationwide lockdown to contain the second wave of the novel coronavirus in the country — a move which did not sit well with the locals. The country has nearly 1.6 million coronavirus cases and over 57,500 deaths.

UK: Nearly 1,300 people wrongfully given positive results for COVID-19

Test and test-and-trace chief Dido Harding has been told to self-isolate by the National Health Service app on her own mobile phone app.

"Nothing like personal experience of your own products ....got this overnight," she wrote on Twitter on Wednesday above a graphic from her phone with the message 'You need to self-isolate'.

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Nothing like personal experience of your own products ....got this overnight. Feeling well. Many hours of Zoom ahead. <a href="https://t.co/Ims9W9gbQh">pic.twitter.com/Ims9W9gbQh</a>
— dido harding (@didoharding) <a href="https://twitter.com/didoharding/status/1328988118708523008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Feeling well. Many hours of Zoom ahead," she added.

It comes a week after her husband, Conservative MP John Penrose, was told to isolate by the app, and days after Boris Johnson began self-isolating.

Johnson was asked&nbsp;to stay at home on Sunday after having a meeting last week with Tory MP Lee Anderson, who then tested positive for coronavirus.

Harding&nbsp;was appointed to run England's coronavirus tracing programme in May with the task of overseeing a team to locate contacts of those who tested positive for the virus.

However, there was criticism of her appointment because of her limited experience of health care and also as her husband, John Penrose, is a lawmaker from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party.

Official figures showed last week that the proportion of contacts of positive cases reached by her system remained at record lows, with about 60% of contacts reached, well below the 80% target.

Her system has managed to reach Johnson, who was told to self-isolate on Sunday, and her husband, who received the same instruction from his phone app on November&nbsp;9.

Test and test-and-trace chief Dido Harding has been told to self-isolate by the National Health Service app on her own mobile phone app. "Nothing like personal experience of your own products .

Test and test-and-trace chief Dido Harding has been told to self-isolate by the National Health Service app on her own mobile phone app. "Nothing like personal experience of your own products ....got this overnight," she wrote on Twitter on Wednesday above a graphic from her phone with the message 'You need to self-isolate'. Nothing like personal experience of your own products ....got this overnight. Feeling well. Many hours of Zoom ahead. pic.twitter.com/Ims9W9gbQh — dido harding (@didoharding) November 18, 2020 × "Feeling well. Many hours of Zoom ahead," she added. It comes a week after her husband, Conservative MP John Penrose, was told to isolate by the app, and days after Boris Johnson began self-isolating. Johnson was asked to stay at home on Sunday after having a meeting last week with Tory MP Lee Anderson, who then tested positive for coronavirus. Harding was appointed to run England's coronavirus tracing programme in May with the task of overseeing a team to locate contacts of those who tested positive for the virus. However, there was criticism of her appointment because of her limited experience of health care and also as her husband, John Penrose, is a lawmaker from Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party. Official figures showed last week that the proportion of contacts of positive cases reached by her system remained at record lows, with about 60% of contacts reached, well below the 80% target. Her system has managed to reach Johnson, who was told to self-isolate on Sunday, and her husband, who received the same instruction from his phone app on November 9.

Head of NHS test-and-trace Dido Harding told to self-isolate by her own app

The British government will be launching a new testing service across the country. The initiative which is called testing and tracing service aims to increase testing an ensure all people with symptoms.

COVID-19 Pandemic: UK to introduce test and trace service