Expert says UK likely has Europe's highest virus death rate

 A leing public health expert said Friday that Britain likely has highest coronavirus death rate in Europe due to what he described as “system errors,” while government defended its record in responding to pandemic.

Anthony Costello, director of Institute for Global Health at University College London, said U.K. “could see 40,000 deaths” by time first wave of country's outbreak is over.

British government reported that as of Thursday, 13,729 people h died in U.K. hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus. number does t include hundreds, and maybe thousands, of virus-related deaths in nursing homes and or settings.

Costello has been a vocal critic of government’s strategy, saying it has t been doing eugh testing for virus and has failed to trace and isolate people who were in contact with infected individuals.

“What were system errors that led us to have probably highest death rates in Europe?” he said.

“We’re going to face furr waves and so we need to make sure we have a system in place ... that enables you to test people rapidly in community, in care homes and to make sure that results are got back to m very quickly,” Costello told a committee of British lawmakers Friday.

Britain was slower than many or European countries to impose mandatory restrictions on business and daily life to slow spre of coronavirus. A lockdown ordered on March 23 was extended Thursday for at least three more weeks. Schools, restaurants and most shops are closed, and most people are allowed to leave home only for essential errands or exercise.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock defended government’s record, saying “test, track and trace” was part of its strategy.

“I think we took right measures at right time,” he said.

government vowed to conduct 100,000 coronavirus tests a day by end of April, a more than five-fold increase on current rates. It has also promised to include nursing home deaths in official tally.