The Government had announced that Britain would have a "world-beating" test-track-trace system up and running by June 1 - but weeks later it is still failing to hit targets. Experts have warned it must catch at least 80 per cent of infections to ensure the spread of the virus is contained. The sum is almost £30 billion more than the latest estimate from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) of £133 billion. It also includes employment support worth £69 billion, business support worth £30 billion and some £50 billion for public service spending, funding for charities and support for vulnerable people. Torsten Bell, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: "[Wednesday's] Budget in-all-but-name was a £30 billion top-up to a pandemic response that is approaching 10% of GDP and will push borrowing to around £350 billion this year."

Source: Daily Mirror July 09, 2020 04:30 UTC