The UK Public Health officials have admitted to double-counting of coronavirus tests.

Suspension of the UK publication of coronavirus testing count in May 2020 was due to multiple-counting of tests of the same individuals.

Suspension of the UK publication of coronavirus testing count in May 2020 was due to multiple-counting of tests of the same individuals.BBC Radio 4 reported that problem of double-counting arose because different types of COVID-19 tests carried out on the same person on the same day were counted separately. A throat and nasal swab will count as one test and a saliva or sputum sample as a second test. Furthermore, other factors contribute to double counting. Several tests might be needed to confirm infection in an individual hospitalized if the first test came back negative. If the result is inconclusive, it may be that further tests are taken from the same patient, and those will be counted separately too. The problem of double-counting caused the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) to pause reporting the actual number of people tested from May, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.