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| Coronavirus: Target reached as UK tests pass 100,000 a day | Coronavirus: Target reached as UK tests pass 100,000 a day |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The UK provided more than 122,000 coronavirus tests on the last day of April, passing the government's target, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said. | The UK provided more than 122,000 coronavirus tests on the last day of April, passing the government's target, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said. |
| Mr Hancock said the target of 100,000 tests per day was an "audacious goal", but testing was necessary "for getting Britain back on her feet". | Mr Hancock said the target of 100,000 tests per day was an "audacious goal", but testing was necessary "for getting Britain back on her feet". |
| The figure includes home test kits counted when they were dispatched, which may not yet have been processed. | The figure includes home test kits counted when they were dispatched, which may not yet have been processed. |
| Mr Hancock set the goal on 2 April, when the UK was on 10,000 tests a day. | Mr Hancock set the goal on 2 April, when the UK was on 10,000 tests a day. |
| Some 27,510 people have now died in UK hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus. | Some 27,510 people have now died in UK hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus. |
| Of the 122,347 tests provided in the 24 hours up to Friday morning, the number of people tested was fewer - at just over 70,000. This could be down to some people having to be tested more than once. | |
| The total figure includes 27,497 testing kits which were delivered to people's homes - but these may not have been actually completed or returned to a lab. | |
| A further 12,872 tests were sent out to so-called "satellite centres" such as hospitals and NHS sites. | |
| Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth suggested the government had been misleading by counting tests that had been mailed out to people, rather than completed and sent back. | |
| "Tonight's headline figure shouldn't count tests that hadn't been used, or indeed, might never be used as a completed test," he said. | |
| At the daily Downing Street briefing, Prof John Newton - a scientist advising the government on testing - said any tests that are done "within the control of the programme, which is the great majority, are counted when the tests are undertaken in our laboratories". | |
| But he said any test that goes "outside the control of the programme" are counted when they leave the programme. | But he said any test that goes "outside the control of the programme" are counted when they leave the programme. |
| "So that's the tests that are mailed out to people at home and the test that's gone out on the satellite." | "So that's the tests that are mailed out to people at home and the test that's gone out on the satellite." |
| He added: "That's the way they are counted, have always been counted, and the way we were advised to count them by officials." | He added: "That's the way they are counted, have always been counted, and the way we were advised to count them by officials." |
| The headline figures certainly look impressive - 122,000 tests in a day. Just a week ago around 25,000 were being recorded and a month ago it stood at 10,000. | |
| It is testament to the hard work that has been done behind the scenes by a partnership of government, scientists and the private sector - with a helping hand from the military. | It is testament to the hard work that has been done behind the scenes by a partnership of government, scientists and the private sector - with a helping hand from the military. |
| But has the government been a little creative with its counting? It has included home-testing kits sent out to individuals as well as the satellite kits - these are batches of tests sent out to care homes and other settings where there are lots of people who need testing. | |
| Some, no doubt, will never be returned. | |
| A week ago these made little difference to the figures - only a few thousand a day were being sent out. But now they account for around a third of the tests. | |
| In his opening remarks, the health secretary suggested the government's 100,000 target had had a "galvanising effect". | In his opening remarks, the health secretary suggested the government's 100,000 target had had a "galvanising effect". |
| He said the testing capacity built since then would "help every single person in this country", and would "help us to unlock the lockdown". | He said the testing capacity built since then would "help every single person in this country", and would "help us to unlock the lockdown". |
| Mr Hancock said the government's "next mission" was the roll-out of its test, track and trace operation. | Mr Hancock said the government's "next mission" was the roll-out of its test, track and trace operation. |
| "By mid-May, we will have an initial 18,000 contact tracers in place," he said. | "By mid-May, we will have an initial 18,000 contact tracers in place," he said. |
| "That work is under way as we speak and if it needs to be bigger, we will scale it as required. | "That work is under way as we speak and if it needs to be bigger, we will scale it as required. |
| "The combination of contact tracers and new technology, through our new Covid-19 NHS app, will help tell us where the virus is spreading and help everyone to control new infections." | "The combination of contact tracers and new technology, through our new Covid-19 NHS app, will help tell us where the virus is spreading and help everyone to control new infections." |
| Mr Hancock added that the next phase would allow the government "to reassert, as much as is safely possible, the liberty of us all". | Mr Hancock added that the next phase would allow the government "to reassert, as much as is safely possible, the liberty of us all". |
| How testing was expanded | How testing was expanded |
| The Department of Health established a testing network, including three "mega labs" to test samples, almost 50 drive-through centres, a home-testing service and mobile testing units, as part of the drive to achieve the government's target. | The Department of Health established a testing network, including three "mega labs" to test samples, almost 50 drive-through centres, a home-testing service and mobile testing units, as part of the drive to achieve the government's target. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Hancock also expanded the list of people eligible for testing throughout the month. | Meanwhile, Mr Hancock also expanded the list of people eligible for testing throughout the month. |
| At first, across the UK, the focus was on testing the sickest patients in hospitals, followed by health, care and emergency services staff. | At first, across the UK, the focus was on testing the sickest patients in hospitals, followed by health, care and emergency services staff. |
| As of last week, other essential workers and their families in England became eligible for testing, if they showed symptoms. | As of last week, other essential workers and their families in England became eligible for testing, if they showed symptoms. |
| Testing was further expanded earlier this week to millions more people, with symptoms including over-65s, those who have to leave home to work, and people living with someone in these groups. | Testing was further expanded earlier this week to millions more people, with symptoms including over-65s, those who have to leave home to work, and people living with someone in these groups. |