{"id":118236,"date":"2021-03-24T00:54:27","date_gmt":"2021-03-24T00:54:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=118236"},"modified":"2021-03-24T00:54:27","modified_gmt":"2021-03-24T00:54:27","slug":"beefed-up-pandemic-busting-uk-health-security-agency-launching-today-to-stop-britain-being-overwhelmed-by-covid-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/beefed-up-pandemic-busting-uk-health-security-agency-launching-today-to-stop-britain-being-overwhelmed-by-covid-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Beefed-up 'pandemic-busting' UK Health Security Agency launching today to stop Britain being overwhelmed by Covid again"},"content":{"rendered":"

A BEEFED-UP \u201cpandemic-busting\u201d body will be launched today to stop Britain being overwhelmed by Covid again.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Matt Hancock will reveal details of the new UK Health Security Agency, which will start work from April 1.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udda0 Read our\u00a0coronavirus live blog\u00a0for the latest news & updates<\/strong>…<\/p>\n

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Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer for England, will be put in charge and tasked with tackling Covid as well as protecting Brits from future threats.<\/p>\n

The pandemic-fighting agency will be fully operational by autumn and replace the short-lived National Institute for Health Protection, whose interim boss Baroness Dido Harding will step down next month.<\/p>\n

It will bring together Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace, as well as the analytical capability of the Joint Biosecurity Centre under one roof.<\/p>\n

The Health Secretary has said the new agency will have a \u201csingle and relentless mission\u201d of protecting Brits from biological weapons and killer outbreaks.<\/p>\n

However, PHE\u2019s health improvement work \u2013 such as tackling obesity and cutting smoking \u2013 is expected to be taken on by the Department of Health and Social Care.<\/p>\n

A health source said: \u201cWe will finally have the pandemic-busting agency this country needs.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is specifically designed to bring together the best science to help beat this pandemic and prevent the next one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n


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Ministers took the decision to scrap Public Health England last year after it was widely-criticised for its \u201csluggish\u201d handling of the Covid crisis.<\/p>\n

It comes as health bosses are hiring a \u201cLessons Learnt Analyst\u201d for the NHS Test and Trace programme.<\/p>\n

The scheme was recently slammed by MPs for failing to have a proven impact on the pandemic despite its colossal \u00a337billion budget.<\/p>\n

The new role, which pays up to \u00a345,998 annually, will be tasked with \u201cidentifying opportunities for improvement\u201d.<\/p>\n

The successful candidate will report into the Continuous Improvement Unit, with benefits including working from home, flexible hours and a Civil Service pension.<\/p>\n

Boris Johnson promised Test and Trace would be \u201cworld-beating\u201d when it launched last May.<\/p>\n

But MPs have warned there is "no clear evidence" it has contributed to a reduction in Covid infection levels.<\/p>\n

In a damning report, ministers were told to stop treating British taxpayers like a \u201ccash machine\u201d after splurging billions on the controversial scheme.<\/p>\n

Health bosses are now hoping the new hire will finally help Test and Trace live up to its promise.<\/p>\n

After its launch, the PM said the scheme will help stamp out outbreaks where they occur by \u201cidentifying hot-spots to do whack-a-mole\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL\u00a0exclusive@the-sun.co.uk<\/strong><\/p>\n