This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52424044
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus test website slots booked up within hour of site reopening | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Coronavirus tests for UK key workers were booked up through the government website within an hour of it reopening, apart from some in Scotland. | |
| The site had to close to new applicants within hours of launching on Friday, after 46,000 people tried to access it. Some 16,000 bookings were made. | The site had to close to new applicants within hours of launching on Friday, after 46,000 people tried to access it. Some 16,000 bookings were made. |
| Home testing kits became unavailable less than 15 minutes after bookings reopened on Saturday morning. | Home testing kits became unavailable less than 15 minutes after bookings reopened on Saturday morning. |
| Tests at drive-through sites in England were booked up within an hour. | |
| Requests for drive-through tests in Scotland are still currently available on the site. | |
| No 10 has said appointments for tests at drive-through centres and home testing kits would become available each day from 08:00 BST, with their release staggered throughout the day. | No 10 has said appointments for tests at drive-through centres and home testing kits would become available each day from 08:00 BST, with their release staggered throughout the day. |
| Dr Simon Eccles, chief clinical information officer at NHS Digital, said an "amazing team" had worked "all night" to enable the site to reopen on Saturday. | |
| After home testing kits were booked up, he wrote on Twitter: "I know it's frustrating but we're developing more lab, supply and logistics capacity every day. | |
| "If we'd waited until we had the full 100k, to launch, no-one would have had a test today." | |
| Prof Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, urged key workers showing Covid-19 symptoms to book a test on the government website. | |
| He told BBC Breakfast there was now capacity for more than 50,000 daily tests - and that reaching 100,000 a day by Thursday remained "the aim". | |
| "The NHS has committed to capacity of 25,000 within NHS laboratories and we are on trajectory for that capacity to be in place," he said. | |
| Prof Powis added the test people can book online is a swab test to determine whether people currently have the virus - rather than whether they have had it in the past. | |
| "I would urge people who fit in that criteria, key workers, to go back onto the website as more appointments become available," he said. | |
| Can I get a test? | |
| Anyone classified as an "essential worker" who is showing symptoms can request a test in England. | |
| The list includes NHS and social care staff, teachers, police officers and transport workers. | |
| They and their family can also request a test if someone in their household shows symptoms. | |
| How will I be tested? | |
| The test involves taking a swab of the nose and the back of the throat. | |
| There are two ways to get a test: at a testing site, or with a home testing kit. | |
| Home kits will initially be limited but are being sent to NHS staff. | |
| Most people will get their test results by text within two days. | |
| When can I go back to work? | |
| Provided you and/or those in your household have not tested positive, you can go back to work. | |
| That is so long as you are well enough and have not had a high temperature for 48 hours. | |
| Are you one of the key workers? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | |
| Or please use the form below: |