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Coronavirus: Questions over how testing pledge will be met Coronavirus: Questions over how testing pledge will be met
(about 1 hour later)
The government is under pressure to explain how it will meet its target of increasing coronavirus testing ten-fold by the end of April.The government is under pressure to explain how it will meet its target of increasing coronavirus testing ten-fold by the end of April.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said he wants 100,000 tests to be carried out every day.Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said he wants 100,000 tests to be carried out every day.
But Labour says there are no details on how this can be achieved and what sort of testing will be involved. But Labour says there are no details on how this can be achieved or what sort of testing will be involved.
It comes as a field hospital with capacity for up to 4,000 patients is to be opened in east London. It comes as a field hospital with capacity for as many as 4,000 patients is to be opened in east London.
The Prince of Wales will officially open London's new NHS Nightingale Hospital, which will treat intensive care Covid-19 patients at the ExCeL convention centre, via a video link from his Scottish home.The Prince of Wales will officially open London's new NHS Nightingale Hospital, which will treat intensive care Covid-19 patients at the ExCeL convention centre, via a video link from his Scottish home.
Labour's John McDonnell told BBC Breakfast a breakdown of the type of tests that would make up the 100,000 figure was needed and urged Mr Hancock to provide more detail.Labour's John McDonnell told BBC Breakfast a breakdown of the type of tests that would make up the 100,000 figure was needed and urged Mr Hancock to provide more detail.
The health secretary told BBC Breakfast the 100,000 test figure was "a goal… for the whole system" including tests for patients, frontline staff, and those who believed they had had the virus - but he stopped short of saying exactly how many of each type of test would be included. The health secretary told the BBC the 100,000 tests figure was "a goal… for the whole system" including tests for patients, frontline staff, and those who believed they had had the virus.
"It has got to happen," he added. "We've got an awful lot of work to do to make it happen. Some of this is going to be very difficult." But he said: "We've got an awful lot of work to do to make it happen."
Mr Hancock told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was possible almost all of the 100,000 figure would be swab tests used to determine whether a person currently had coronavirus.
But he said it would also include 500 highly-accurate antibody blood tests - to detect whether someone has already had coronavirus - performed each day by Porton Down - the military's science laboratory.
He said other types of antibody blood tests for mass screening had so far failed to meet the required accuracy standard.
For the swab tests, Mr Hancock said existing patients would be first in line, followed by "a whole series of critical workers", including medical staff and their families, social care workers, prison and police officers.
Mr Hancock said 35,000 NHS staff were off work due to coronavirus - either because they had symptoms or because they lived with someone who did.Mr Hancock said 35,000 NHS staff were off work due to coronavirus - either because they had symptoms or because they lived with someone who did.
And speaking about his own experience with coronavirus, he said it had been a "pretty unpleasant experience" which saw him lose half a stone in weight. Speaking about his own experience with coronavirus, he told Today: "It was pretty worrying especially on the way down because you know how serious this infection can be.
He described a "worrying" moment his condition - which he said prevented him sleeping and caused a painful sore throat - appeared to get worse before he turned a corner and felt better. "Thankfully I could get through it," he said. "But after two days or so which were pretty unpleasant - like having glass in your throat and a cough - thankfully I turned a corner and I've recovered."
'Five-pillar' plan'Five-pillar' plan
Speaking on Thursday at the Downing Street coronavirus briefing, following days of criticism of the government's record on testing, Mr Hancock announced a "five-pillar" plan to reach the 100,000 target.Speaking on Thursday at the Downing Street coronavirus briefing, following days of criticism of the government's record on testing, Mr Hancock announced a "five-pillar" plan to reach the 100,000 target.
These were:
Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Commons home affairs committee, told BBC's Question Time the target was welcome but a "centralised approach" with all tests being carried out by Public Health England would be "just not enough" to meet demand.Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who chairs the Commons home affairs committee, told BBC's Question Time the target was welcome but a "centralised approach" with all tests being carried out by Public Health England would be "just not enough" to meet demand.
Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth called for more clarity and details, asking how many of the 100,000 tests would be blood tests, and what role testing will play in the government's "exit strategy" to end the lockdown.
David McCoy, professor of global public health at Queen Mary University, said the government's pledge was "a step in the right direction", but cautioned that testing was not a "magic bullet" and called for a less "centralised, top-down uniform" approachDavid McCoy, professor of global public health at Queen Mary University, said the government's pledge was "a step in the right direction", but cautioned that testing was not a "magic bullet" and called for a less "centralised, top-down uniform" approach
Figures released on Thursday showed the number of people with the virus who have died in the UK had risen by 569, taking the total to 2,921 as of 17:00 BST on Wednesday.Figures released on Thursday showed the number of people with the virus who have died in the UK had risen by 569, taking the total to 2,921 as of 17:00 BST on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, there was capacity for 12,799 daily tests in England - although just 10,650 people were tested. The government's target by mid-April had been to test 25,000 per day.On Wednesday, there was capacity for 12,799 daily tests in England - although just 10,650 people were tested. The government's target by mid-April had been to test 25,000 per day.
Latest figures show 163,194 people in the UK have so far been tested for the virus, of which 33,718 were confirmed positive.Latest figures show 163,194 people in the UK have so far been tested for the virus, of which 33,718 were confirmed positive.
Doubt has also been cast on the idea of "immunity certificates" being given to people who have recovered from coronavirus.Doubt has also been cast on the idea of "immunity certificates" being given to people who have recovered from coronavirus.
On Thursday, Mr Hancock, who was making his first public appearance since going into self-isolation after contracting coronavirus, said the government was considering the idea to allow people to "get back, as much as possible, to normal life".On Thursday, Mr Hancock, who was making his first public appearance since going into self-isolation after contracting coronavirus, said the government was considering the idea to allow people to "get back, as much as possible, to normal life".
But Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, said such certificates would give people a "sense of false security" about the disease.But Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, said such certificates would give people a "sense of false security" about the disease.
Meanwhile, London's Nightingale Hospital will officially open later - less than two weeks after military personnel, working with NHS managers and clinicians, began transforming the ExCeL conference and exhibition centre into a giant hospital.Meanwhile, London's Nightingale Hospital will officially open later - less than two weeks after military personnel, working with NHS managers and clinicians, began transforming the ExCeL conference and exhibition centre into a giant hospital.
The facility, which normally plays host to lifestyle shows, expos and conferences, will be split into more than 80 wards containing 42 beds each and will be one of the biggest hospitals in the world, according to its chief operating officer, Natalie Forrest.
Work is under way to build similar facilities at conference centres in Manchester and Birmingham.
In other developments:In other developments:
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