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Coronavirus: Essential workers in England to get tests | Coronavirus: Essential workers in England to get tests |
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All essential workers in England - and members of their household - are now eligible for coronavirus tests, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. | All essential workers in England - and members of their household - are now eligible for coronavirus tests, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. |
Individuals who are on the list of key workers and need to book a test will be able to do so on the UK government's website from Friday. | Individuals who are on the list of key workers and need to book a test will be able to do so on the UK government's website from Friday. |
At the daily Downing Street briefing, Mr Hancock said the move was "part of getting Britain back on her feet". | At the daily Downing Street briefing, Mr Hancock said the move was "part of getting Britain back on her feet". |
He added that the whole process would be free for those being tested. | He added that the whole process would be free for those being tested. |
Addressing the government's "challenging" target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month, the health secretary said capacity for carrying out tests was now "ahead of our plans" at more than 50,000. | Addressing the government's "challenging" target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month, the health secretary said capacity for carrying out tests was now "ahead of our plans" at more than 50,000. |
"We are now able to expand who can get the tests," he said. | "We are now able to expand who can get the tests," he said. |
"Our ultimate goal is that everyone who could benefit from a test gets a test." | "Our ultimate goal is that everyone who could benefit from a test gets a test." |
The government is also introducing home test kits as well as mobile testing sites, which will be operated with the support of the armed forces, Mr Hancock said. | The government is also introducing home test kits as well as mobile testing sites, which will be operated with the support of the armed forces, Mr Hancock said. |
Key workers who are unable to access the government's website will still be able to apply for a test, as employers are able to book on behalf of their staff from Thursday. | Key workers who are unable to access the government's website will still be able to apply for a test, as employers are able to book on behalf of their staff from Thursday. |
Mr Hancock said those who qualify as essential workers will be based on criteria similar to those used for deciding whose children can still attend school. | Mr Hancock said those who qualify as essential workers will be based on criteria similar to those used for deciding whose children can still attend school. |
Hospitals have been carrying out tests, along with a network of about 30 drive-through centres in car parks, at airports and sports grounds. | |
But the drive-through centres have not always been in convenient locations which may have discouraged people from getting tested, BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle said. | |
Mr Hancock also announced steps that were being taken to help establish a network of contact tracers that will be used when lockdown is lifted, as he said a process of "test, track and trace" would be "vital" to stop a second peak of the virus. | |
He said infrastructure will be put in place so that contact tracing can be rolled out on a "large scale", adding that 18,000 people will be hired to trace coronavirus infections. | |
Also at the briefing, Prof John Newton, co-ordinator of the UK's coronavirus testing programme, said the government was "on track" to reach its target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. | Also at the briefing, Prof John Newton, co-ordinator of the UK's coronavirus testing programme, said the government was "on track" to reach its target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. |
He added: "We're going to have 48 of these pop-up facilities which can travel around the country to where they're needed most - for example, in care homes." | He added: "We're going to have 48 of these pop-up facilities which can travel around the country to where they're needed most - for example, in care homes." |