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| Coronavirus: Testing opens for millions more people in England | Coronavirus: Testing opens for millions more people in England |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Coronavirus testing is available for millions more people in England from today after the government loosened rules on who can apply. | Coronavirus testing is available for millions more people in England from today after the government loosened rules on who can apply. |
| Testing expanded last week to all key workers in England and their households. | Testing expanded last week to all key workers in England and their households. |
| Now, all care home residents and staff, people over 65 and those who must leave home to work are entitled to a test. | Now, all care home residents and staff, people over 65 and those who must leave home to work are entitled to a test. |
| No 10 aims to hit its target of 100,000 tests per day by Thursday, with just over 43,000 taking place as of Monday. | No 10 aims to hit its target of 100,000 tests per day by Thursday, with just over 43,000 taking place as of Monday. |
| The expansion in eligibility means 25 million people can now book through the government's test-booking website, testing coordinator Prof John Newton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | The expansion in eligibility means 25 million people can now book through the government's test-booking website, testing coordinator Prof John Newton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Testing capacity has now increased to 73,400 a day, according to Downing Street, though home testing kits and appointments at regional centres in Wales ran out around an hour after Wednesday's slots launched for booking at 08:00 BST. | |
| Speaking at the latest coronavirus briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "From construction workers to emergency plumbers, from research scientists to those in manufacturing, the expansion of access to testing will protect the most vulnerable and help keep people safe." | Speaking at the latest coronavirus briefing, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "From construction workers to emergency plumbers, from research scientists to those in manufacturing, the expansion of access to testing will protect the most vulnerable and help keep people safe." |
| It comes as the government prepares to publish for the first time up-to-date figures for all coronavirus deaths, both in hospitals and care homes. Previously, the daily reported figure has been restricted almost entirely to hospital deaths. | It comes as the government prepares to publish for the first time up-to-date figures for all coronavirus deaths, both in hospitals and care homes. Previously, the daily reported figure has been restricted almost entirely to hospital deaths. |
| Office for National Statistics data showed a third of all coronavirus deaths in England and Wales are now happening in care homes. | Office for National Statistics data showed a third of all coronavirus deaths in England and Wales are now happening in care homes. |
| Meanwhile, Downing Street has refused to confirm whether Boris Johnson will appear at Prime Minister's Questions later. | Meanwhile, Downing Street has refused to confirm whether Boris Johnson will appear at Prime Minister's Questions later. |
| It is set to be his first appearance opposite the new leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer. | It is set to be his first appearance opposite the new leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer. |
| Mr Johnson and Sir Keir are also due to speak by telephone later, as part of the government's commitment to keep opposition parties informed about its response to the pandemic. | Mr Johnson and Sir Keir are also due to speak by telephone later, as part of the government's commitment to keep opposition parties informed about its response to the pandemic. |
| Eligibility criteria for testing varies around the UK. | Eligibility criteria for testing varies around the UK. |
| In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said all patients over 70 who are admitted to hospital for any reason will now be tested for Covid-19. | In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said all patients over 70 who are admitted to hospital for any reason will now be tested for Covid-19. |
| In Northern Ireland, testing has begun in some GP practices and will also be expanded in hospitals and care homes. Wales has adopted a needs-based approach to testing for NHS and "critical" non-NHS workers. | In Northern Ireland, testing has begun in some GP practices and will also be expanded in hospitals and care homes. Wales has adopted a needs-based approach to testing for NHS and "critical" non-NHS workers. |
| Who can be tested in England? | Who can be tested in England? |
| Source: HM Government | Source: HM Government |
| 'Massive expansion in testing' | 'Massive expansion in testing' |
| This represents a massive expansion of who is eligible for testing - and means we are now one step away from allowing everyone to access a test if they have symptoms. | This represents a massive expansion of who is eligible for testing - and means we are now one step away from allowing everyone to access a test if they have symptoms. |
| That will be crucial when lockdown restrictions are eased as part of the "test, track and trace" strategy to keep coronavirus at bay. | That will be crucial when lockdown restrictions are eased as part of the "test, track and trace" strategy to keep coronavirus at bay. |
| It is being made possible by the roll-out of home-testing kits and mobile units staffed by the armed forces. | It is being made possible by the roll-out of home-testing kits and mobile units staffed by the armed forces. |
| The problems experienced getting more people tested have - to some extent - been because the network of drive-through testing centres have not always been in convenient locations. | The problems experienced getting more people tested have - to some extent - been because the network of drive-through testing centres have not always been in convenient locations. |
| There is plenty of lab capacity to process the tests now the three mega labs are up-and-running in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Cheshire. | There is plenty of lab capacity to process the tests now the three mega labs are up-and-running in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Cheshire. |
| The expansion has also allowed the government to do something that could prove crucial in tackling the epidemic in care homes - the testing of residents and staff without symptoms. | The expansion has also allowed the government to do something that could prove crucial in tackling the epidemic in care homes - the testing of residents and staff without symptoms. |
| A big concern is that the virus has been able to get a foothold in care homes via people transmitting it before they develop symptoms or if they are asymptomatic. | A big concern is that the virus has been able to get a foothold in care homes via people transmitting it before they develop symptoms or if they are asymptomatic. |
| But promising something is one thing - delivering it is another. | But promising something is one thing - delivering it is another. |
| While the capacity looks like it will be there to test 100,000 a day by the end of the month, the numbers actually getting tested are currently less than half that. | While the capacity looks like it will be there to test 100,000 a day by the end of the month, the numbers actually getting tested are currently less than half that. |
| 'Transparency' | 'Transparency' |
| Meanwhile, Office for National Statistics data showed there were 2,000 coronavirus care home deaths in England and Wales in the week ending 17 April, double the previous week. | Meanwhile, Office for National Statistics data showed there were 2,000 coronavirus care home deaths in England and Wales in the week ending 17 April, double the previous week. |
| It brings the total number of deaths in care homes linked to the virus since the start of the pandemic to 3,096. | It brings the total number of deaths in care homes linked to the virus since the start of the pandemic to 3,096. |
| Coronavirus deaths in hospitals across the UK, have reached 21,678 - a rise of 586 from Monday. | Coronavirus deaths in hospitals across the UK, have reached 21,678 - a rise of 586 from Monday. |
| The health secretary said that from Wednesday the government will publish daily figures on deaths in care homes and the community. | The health secretary said that from Wednesday the government will publish daily figures on deaths in care homes and the community. |
| He said the change aimed to "bring as much transparency as possible" to the figures and "add to our understanding of how this virus is spreading day by day". | He said the change aimed to "bring as much transparency as possible" to the figures and "add to our understanding of how this virus is spreading day by day". |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| Have you been tested or are you hoping to get a test? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you been tested or are you hoping to get a test? 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: | 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 use the form below | Or use the form below |