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| Coronavirus: Are these seven targets being hit? | Coronavirus: Are these seven targets being hit? |
| (3 days later) | |
| The UK government has set various targets during its efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. | The UK government has set various targets during its efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. |
| Have they been met? | Have they been met? |
| 1. 25,000 tests a day by the middle of April | 1. 25,000 tests a day by the middle of April |
| "We will massively scale up our testing capacity in the weeks ahead so we hit 25,000 tests a day" - Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 18 March | "We will massively scale up our testing capacity in the weeks ahead so we hit 25,000 tests a day" - Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 18 March |
| Outcome: | Outcome: |
| On the same day a press release from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) gave more details of the tests to diagnose coronavirus and said "the increased capacity is expected to be ready within four weeks". | On the same day a press release from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) gave more details of the tests to diagnose coronavirus and said "the increased capacity is expected to be ready within four weeks". |
| But the government did not hit 25,000 tests a day by mid-April. Only 18,665 tests were conducted in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) on 15 April. | But the government did not hit 25,000 tests a day by mid-April. Only 18,665 tests were conducted in the UK (excluding Northern Ireland) on 15 April. |
| In terms of testing capacity - the amount of tests which could theoretically be carried out on any one day - that stood at more than 30,000 by mid-April. | In terms of testing capacity - the amount of tests which could theoretically be carried out on any one day - that stood at more than 30,000 by mid-April. |
| 2. 100,000 tests a day by the end of April | 2. 100,000 tests a day by the end of April |
| "I am now setting the goal of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month - that is the goal and I am determined that we will get there" - Health Secretary Matt Hancock, 2 April | "I am now setting the goal of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month - that is the goal and I am determined that we will get there" - Health Secretary Matt Hancock, 2 April |
| Outcome: | Outcome: |
| On 1 May, the government said it had reached the target and announced 122,347 tests for the last day of the month (30 April). | On 1 May, the government said it had reached the target and announced 122,347 tests for the last day of the month (30 April). |
| The testing figure had been averaging about 20,000 a day but increased significantly in the last days of April. | The testing figure had been averaging about 20,000 a day but increased significantly in the last days of April. |
| When home testing kits were introduced in large numbers towards the end of the month, DHSC began counting those sent out as part of its daily test figures. | When home testing kits were introduced in large numbers towards the end of the month, DHSC began counting those sent out as part of its daily test figures. |
| So, it doesn't mean the test was actually used by someone on that day. | So, it doesn't mean the test was actually used by someone on that day. |
| Previously, only instances in which the testing swab had been processed through a lab were counted as a test. | Previously, only instances in which the testing swab had been processed through a lab were counted as a test. |
| The 122,347 figure included about 40,000 kits sent out to homes and test centres. | The 122,347 figure included about 40,000 kits sent out to homes and test centres. |
| Prof John Newton, who is leading the government's testing programme said: "That's the way they are counted, have always been counted, and the way we were advised to count them by officials." | Prof John Newton, who is leading the government's testing programme said: "That's the way they are counted, have always been counted, and the way we were advised to count them by officials." |
| The government met its daily target on 30 April and 1 May but then failed to meet it for the next eight days in a row. It hit it again on 10 May and then for three days in a row from 13 May. After missing it again on 16 May the figure was just over 100,000 on 17 May. | |
| On 6 May Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a fresh target to get to 200,000 tests a day by the end of May "and then to go even higher". | On 6 May Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a fresh target to get to 200,000 tests a day by the end of May "and then to go even higher". |
| Statistical regulator the UK Statistics Authority has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock to ask for clarification of whether that target is for testing capacity, the number of tests administered, the number of tests completed or the number of people tested. | Statistical regulator the UK Statistics Authority has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock to ask for clarification of whether that target is for testing capacity, the number of tests administered, the number of tests completed or the number of people tested. |
| The devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland also made pledges on coronavirus testing. | The devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland also made pledges on coronavirus testing. |
| But Wales's health minister Vaughan Gething announced they were abandoning their promise of conducting 5,000 tests a day by mid-April, blaming problems obtaining testing kits. | But Wales's health minister Vaughan Gething announced they were abandoning their promise of conducting 5,000 tests a day by mid-April, blaming problems obtaining testing kits. |
| Likewise, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon admitted at a press briefing on 23 April that Scotland was unlikely to achieve its original target of 10,000 tests per day by the end of April, saying "we are working towards a capacity of 3,500 by the end of April". | Likewise, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon admitted at a press briefing on 23 April that Scotland was unlikely to achieve its original target of 10,000 tests per day by the end of April, saying "we are working towards a capacity of 3,500 by the end of April". |
| 3. Setting up 50 regional testing centres by the end of April | 3. Setting up 50 regional testing centres by the end of April |
| "We are working with Boots and other partners to set up over 50 regional test centres around the country by the end of April" - Matt Hancock statement, 4 April | "We are working with Boots and other partners to set up over 50 regional test centres around the country by the end of April" - Matt Hancock statement, 4 April |
| Outcome: | Outcome: |
| DHSC told the BBC on 4 May that 49 regional test centres were operational across the country. Mr Hancock had previously said in a statement that there would be "over 50" by the end of April. | DHSC told the BBC on 4 May that 49 regional test centres were operational across the country. Mr Hancock had previously said in a statement that there would be "over 50" by the end of April. |
| The "drive-through" test centres are run by Boots and other commercial providers. | The "drive-through" test centres are run by Boots and other commercial providers. |
| DHSC also said that 96 mobile testing sites were in service by 4 May. | DHSC also said that 96 mobile testing sites were in service by 4 May. |
| 4. Recruiting 18,000 contact tracers by mid-May | 4. Recruiting 18,000 contact tracers by mid-May |
| "By mid-May, we'll have an initial 18,000 contact tracers in place." - Matt Hancock, 1 May | "By mid-May, we'll have an initial 18,000 contact tracers in place." - Matt Hancock, 1 May |
| Outcome: | Outcome: |
| On 1 May, Mr Hancock said that the government's testing programme is the "first element" in the wider strategy to "test, track and trace". He added that an "initial 18,000" contact tracing staff will be in place "by mid-May". | On 1 May, Mr Hancock said that the government's testing programme is the "first element" in the wider strategy to "test, track and trace". He added that an "initial 18,000" contact tracing staff will be in place "by mid-May". |
| They will be made up of 3,000 health workers and 15,000 call handlers. Their role will be to identify individuals that have Covid-19 and then to "track and trace" anyone they've recently been in contact with, to let them know that they may have contracted the virus. They can then get themselves tested. | They will be made up of 3,000 health workers and 15,000 call handlers. Their role will be to identify individuals that have Covid-19 and then to "track and trace" anyone they've recently been in contact with, to let them know that they may have contracted the virus. They can then get themselves tested. |
| Speaking to Sky News on 15 May, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said there had been 15,000 applications. In terms of how many of them had actually been hired, he said "earlier in the week it was about 1,500, it would have gone up since then". | Speaking to Sky News on 15 May, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said there had been 15,000 applications. In terms of how many of them had actually been hired, he said "earlier in the week it was about 1,500, it would have gone up since then". |
| Then on 18 May, Mr Hancock told Parliament that 21,000 contact tracers had been recruited in England, of whom 7,500 were healthcare professionals. | |
| 5. Getting all care home workers the protective equipment they needed by late March | 5. Getting all care home workers the protective equipment they needed by late March |
| "On the personal protective equipment, the answer is by the end of this week." - Boris Johnson, 25 March | "On the personal protective equipment, the answer is by the end of this week." - Boris Johnson, 25 March |
| Outcome: | Outcome: |
| On 25 March, Mr Johnson was asked in parliament when "every single person" working in care homes around the country would get the personal protective equipment (PPE) they needed and he replied: "The answer is by the end of this week." | On 25 March, Mr Johnson was asked in parliament when "every single person" working in care homes around the country would get the personal protective equipment (PPE) they needed and he replied: "The answer is by the end of this week." |
| But that didn't appear to happen. In early April, Nadra Ahmed, from the National Care Association, said: "The issue we hear most is: 'I am desperate for masks. Has anyone got any gloves? I am down to my last stock.' Once you run out, it is a question of being down to Marigolds and bin liners." | But that didn't appear to happen. In early April, Nadra Ahmed, from the National Care Association, said: "The issue we hear most is: 'I am desperate for masks. Has anyone got any gloves? I am down to my last stock.' Once you run out, it is a question of being down to Marigolds and bin liners." |
| According to those working in the care home sector, the situation improved later in April but was not resolved. | According to those working in the care home sector, the situation improved later in April but was not resolved. |
| Martin Green, from Care England, said on 20 April that "access to PPE remains problematic" and that care homes still need "a consistent supply". | Martin Green, from Care England, said on 20 April that "access to PPE remains problematic" and that care homes still need "a consistent supply". |
| The cabinet minister Michael Gove said that, by 2 May, "1.08 billion items of PPE" had been delivered "across the health and social care system within England". | The cabinet minister Michael Gove said that, by 2 May, "1.08 billion items of PPE" had been delivered "across the health and social care system within England". |
| However, according to the BBC's Panorama programme, more than half of all the PPE items are surgical gloves - and in most cases, each individual glove is counted rather than pairs. | However, according to the BBC's Panorama programme, more than half of all the PPE items are surgical gloves - and in most cases, each individual glove is counted rather than pairs. |
| Concerns about the availability of PPE in care homes have also been raised in Scotland and Wales. | Concerns about the availability of PPE in care homes have also been raised in Scotland and Wales. |
| 6. Increasing NHS capacity to meet demand | 6. Increasing NHS capacity to meet demand |
| "Making sure that the NHS always has the capacity to treat patients is also mission critical" - Matt Hancock, 17 April | "Making sure that the NHS always has the capacity to treat patients is also mission critical" - Matt Hancock, 17 April |
| Outcome: | Outcome: |
| The government has met its objective. | The government has met its objective. |
| On 4 May, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that there were 3,413 spare critical care beds across the UK. | On 4 May, the Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that there were 3,413 spare critical care beds across the UK. |
| The spare capacity reflects the falling numbers of patients requiring intensive care treatment for Covid-19. | The spare capacity reflects the falling numbers of patients requiring intensive care treatment for Covid-19. |
| The government insists that nobody in need of critical care has been unable to get it due to a lack of beds or equipment | The government insists that nobody in need of critical care has been unable to get it due to a lack of beds or equipment |
| 7. Providing the NHS with 18,000 ventilators | 7. Providing the NHS with 18,000 ventilators |
| "Our goal, instead of the 30,000, is that we need 18,000 ventilators over the coming two weeks" - Matt Hancock, 5 April | "Our goal, instead of the 30,000, is that we need 18,000 ventilators over the coming two weeks" - Matt Hancock, 5 April |
| Outcome: | Outcome: |
| The DHSC told the BBC that, by 5 May, the government had managed to make 10,900 mechanical ventilators available to the NHS across the UK. Mr Hancock's 18,000 target was for this type of ventilator, according to the DHSC. | The DHSC told the BBC that, by 5 May, the government had managed to make 10,900 mechanical ventilators available to the NHS across the UK. Mr Hancock's 18,000 target was for this type of ventilator, according to the DHSC. |
| The original UK target had been higher but was reduced, Mr Hancock said, because the lockdown and social distancing measures were working to slow the spread of the virus. | The original UK target had been higher but was reduced, Mr Hancock said, because the lockdown and social distancing measures were working to slow the spread of the virus. |
| A spokesperson for the DHSC said: "Every patient who needs a ventilator has been able to receive this treatment and we are confident that there will be enough ventilators available for everyone who needs one. We continue to keep capacity ahead of demand." | A spokesperson for the DHSC said: "Every patient who needs a ventilator has been able to receive this treatment and we are confident that there will be enough ventilators available for everyone who needs one. We continue to keep capacity ahead of demand." |
| This article was updated to reflect the latest figures on testing and contact tracers. | |
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