Test, Test, Test; Lessons learned from experience with mass screening programmes: Advice Note for Independent SAGE

Mass testing for COVID-19 has the potential, if delivered to the right people at the right time with the right ongoing action, to bring benefit. However, the current government policies, relying on fragmented services by inexperienced providers without integration into local systems of care, risk poor delivery with consequent harm to tested individuals and to the wider population, as well as loss of trust in Public Health Services. Independent SAGE can help to prevent this harm, by supporting coordinated high quality provision embedded in statutory services.