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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. | |
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