Coronavirus: How close is UK to target of 100,000 daily tests by end of April?

Scientists say problem is lack of kit, as numbers are short of even the 25,000 ministers had hoped for by mid-April 

Jane Dalton
Friday 17 April 2020 07:40 BST
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Just under 100,000 coronavirus cases in the UK have been confirmed by laboratory tests
Just under 100,000 coronavirus cases in the UK have been confirmed by laboratory tests

The government has set an ambitious target of 100,000 coronavirus tests per day by the end of April, but current figures are well below that – hovering around 15,000 tests per day.

Boris Johnson had originally set a target of 250,000 tests per day.

When health secretary Matt Hancock announced the 100,000 daily figure on 2 April, shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth questioned whether enough trained staff were available to hit the target.

“A commitment to 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month is welcome but of course it’s not the 250,000 Boris Johnson promised.

Germany, which has been widely praised for carrying out vigorous testing, conducts around 50,000 tests per day.

Ministers have insisted they will not roll out tests unless they are certain they are accurate because any that gives a false sense of security is worse than none at all.

Antigen tests – which show if someone currently has the virus – are done by taking a swab of the nose or throat.

The government is also looking to roll out antibody tests – conducted by a finger prick – which show if someone has had the virus previously and is now immune, but checks have not yet shown these to be effective.

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