Media: Britain reveals COVID-19 outbreak in biggest lab

A coronavirus outbreak has been confirmed at Britain’s largest laboratory testing for the infection because of possible security breaches, the Sky News television channel has reported, citing an unnamed employee at the facility Cases of coronavirus infection have been found in three of the four teams of scientists working at Milton Keynes Lighthouse Laboratory in […]

Media: Britain reveals COVID-19 outbreak in biggest lab

A coronavirus outbreak has been confirmed at Britain’s largest laboratory testing for the infection because of possible security breaches, the Sky News television channel has reported, citing an unnamed employee at the facility

Cases of coronavirus infection have been found in three of the four teams of scientists working at Milton Keynes Lighthouse Laboratory in Milton Keynes. In addition, the virus was detected in administrative staff and warehouse workers. The exact number of those infected is unknown, but about 20 of the 70 laboratory staff have been forced into isolation, according to the publication.

The Gamaleya Centre has not yet received a sample of the “British” strain of the coronavirus

A laboratory worker, who wished to remain anonymous, told the TV channel that security rules were repeatedly violated at the institution. He said this was because the facility needed to meet targets and run 70,000 coronavirus tests a day. On Tuesday, he said, experts were only able to examine 47,000 samples. A spokesman for NHS England said the agency was aware of a coronavirus outbreak in the laboratory. However, he stressed that all safety guidelines had been followed at the facility.

Media: Britain reveals COVID-19 outbreak in biggest lab