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Coronavirus lateral flow tests only pick up 49 per cent of infections because they fail to catch people with low levels of the virus, researchers have found. The findings of a pilot of 3,199 people has blown a hole in the Government's mass testing strategy, which featured plans to hand out millions of 30-minute tests to allow Britons to go back to living life normally, it was revealed yesterday. The lateral flow test produced by US-based Innova only pick up 48.89 per cent of active infections, according to a University of Liverpool pilot programme. It contradicts earlier lab tests, which found the test had an overall sensitivity of 76.8 per cent, rising to 95 per cent in individuals with a high viral load. The findings of a pilot of 3,199 people has blown a hole in the Government's mass testing strategy, which featured plans to hand out millions of 30-minute tests to allow Britons to go back to living life normally. Pictured, a lateral flow test is processed on December 8 The l

Boris Johnson was today blasted as an 'English nationalist' by a former Conservative party chairman as Tories rowed over the Prime Minister's Brexit plan. Gunboats are being prepared for any 'punch-up' with 'stormy' French fishermen as last-minute negotiations with the EU rumble on. The trade talks continue to be deadlocked over the thorny issues of fishing rights and the so-called level playing field 'ratchet' that would tie the UK to future EU standards. Chief trade negotiators Michel Barnier and Lord Frost were set to start negotiating again shortly before midday today in Brussels, with talks also scheduled for tomorrow. The Ministry of Defence confirmed last night four 80-metre gunboats are on standby to stop EU trawlers using British waters, assuming there is no new agreement on fishing rights after December 31 when transitional arrangements end. Reports also suggested that military helicopter surveillance will be made available and that ministe

Italy has overtaken the UK to reclaim the unwanted record of having seen the most coronavirus deaths in Europe, as its toll passes 64,000.  The Italian government has faced accusations of pushing 'amateurish' policies to combat the second wave of the virus after the healthcare system again failed to protect the elderly and the government delayed imposing new restrictions. Italy reported 649 new coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday compared with 761 the day before, the health ministry said.  This brings its official total to 64,036 since its outbreak emerged in February, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is ten more than Britain's total toll.  However, both numbers are believed to greatly underestimate the real toll, due to missed infections, limited testing and different counting criteria. Italy has surpassed Britain's figures despite having 6million people fewer than the UK's 66million, and would trail only the much larger U.S., Brazil, India and Mexic