The prime minister’s senseless boosterism has at last been replaced by solid progress

Editorial: Compared with the pitiful panics of a year ago, Britain is now better prepared for the next stage of the pandemic

It now seems safe to continue with the cautious unlocking that the prime minister has outlined (Getty)

Not quite the “moonshot” the British people were promised some months ago, but a comprehensive testing regime does at last seem to be in place. Assuming the system can cope with demand, the government is now offering the entire population a Covid-19 test twice a week for the foreseeable future.

It is a year late, frankly, and will no doubt be subject to delays and mishap. But, like the last, snail-costumed runner finishing a marathon, it is nice to see. With updated restrictions on travel, under the new “traffic light” system, and the success of the vaccination programme, it seems safe to continue with the cautious unlocking that the prime minister has outlined.

The more serious outstanding problems with the testing system are familiar, and about as old as the Covid crisis itself. First is the lack of comprehensive follow-up in tracing. Second is the reluctance on the part of many to take a test, or avoid acting on one because they cannot afford the loss of earnings that comes with self-isolation. It has always been one of the fundamental weaknesses in the system, only partly resolved by the £500 flat-rate support payment.