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| Coronavirus: UK 'likely to get close to or hit' 100,000 tests target | Coronavirus: UK 'likely to get close to or hit' 100,000 tests target |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The government is likely to meet or "come close" to its target of 100,000 daily UK coronavirus tests, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has said. | The government is likely to meet or "come close" to its target of 100,000 daily UK coronavirus tests, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has said. |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government would achieve the aim by the end of April - which was Thursday - and those figures are expected later. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government would achieve the aim by the end of April - which was Thursday - and those figures are expected later. |
| Just over 81,000 tests across the UK took place on Wednesday, but ministers said there was capacity for more. | Just over 81,000 tests across the UK took place on Wednesday, but ministers said there was capacity for more. |
| It comes as the PM said the UK was now "past the peak" of the outbreak. | It comes as the PM said the UK was now "past the peak" of the outbreak. |
| Mr Jenrick told BBC Breakfast: "I don't have the figures yet, they'll be published later today... but it looks like we'll either meet the target or come close." | Mr Jenrick told BBC Breakfast: "I don't have the figures yet, they'll be published later today... but it looks like we'll either meet the target or come close." |
| He added the target was "just a stepping stone" and that the foundations were in place for a strong national testing network. | He added the target was "just a stepping stone" and that the foundations were in place for a strong national testing network. |
| It comes after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC One's Question Time on Thursday evening that the government was "likely to get very close to or meet" its target. | It comes after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC One's Question Time on Thursday evening that the government was "likely to get very close to or meet" its target. |
| The total number of people who have died after testing positive for Covid-19 in UK hospitals and the wider community is now 26,771, a rise of 674 on the previous day, the latest figures show. | |
| Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said testing needed to be linked with contact tracing, adding that he hoped this would form "an important part" of the government's exit strategy from the lockdown. | Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said testing needed to be linked with contact tracing, adding that he hoped this would form "an important part" of the government's exit strategy from the lockdown. |
| Prof Devi Sridhar, an expert in global public health from the University of Edinburgh, said testing needed to be used as part of a contact tracing strategy to identify people who had been infected and then track down anyone they had been recently in contact with. | |
| Anyone who tests positive for the virus can then be told to self-isolate, she added. | Anyone who tests positive for the virus can then be told to self-isolate, she added. |
| Prof Sridhar, who is among those advising the Scottish government on its response to the pandemic, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Testing on its own is useful but not really the full package." | Prof Sridhar, who is among those advising the Scottish government on its response to the pandemic, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Testing on its own is useful but not really the full package." |
| If the government achieves 100,000 tests it will certainly be a remarkable achievement. Remember at the start of April, 10 times fewer were being carried out. | If the government achieves 100,000 tests it will certainly be a remarkable achievement. Remember at the start of April, 10 times fewer were being carried out. |
| A testing network, including three mega labs, more than 40 drive-through centres, a home-testing service and mobile units, have been set up in super quick time. | A testing network, including three mega labs, more than 40 drive-through centres, a home-testing service and mobile units, have been set up in super quick time. |
| But there is a fear within the system that the frantic rush to get to the target has come at a cost. | But there is a fear within the system that the frantic rush to get to the target has come at a cost. |
| It is noticeable that the extension of eligibility this week to the over-65s and anyone claiming they have to leave home for work this week in England has coincided with a significant increase in tests being carried out. | It is noticeable that the extension of eligibility this week to the over-65s and anyone claiming they have to leave home for work this week in England has coincided with a significant increase in tests being carried out. |
| Yet care homes are reporting they are struggling to get access to tests, while NHS workers have found testing slots have sometimes been taken up by the time they try. | Yet care homes are reporting they are struggling to get access to tests, while NHS workers have found testing slots have sometimes been taken up by the time they try. |
| Some argue a more planned, considered approach not based on simply hitting a number may have been better. | Some argue a more planned, considered approach not based on simply hitting a number may have been better. |
| After all, an efficient testing system coupled with a system to track and trace close contacts of infected individuals is going to be crucial in gradually moving out of lockdown. | After all, an efficient testing system coupled with a system to track and trace close contacts of infected individuals is going to be crucial in gradually moving out of lockdown. |
| 'Comprehensive plan' | 'Comprehensive plan' |
| Speaking at the No 10 briefing for the first time since receiving hospital treatment for Covid-19, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday evening that the government was "massively ramping up" testing, and that the country was now "past the peak of this disease". | |
| The PM added he would set out a "comprehensive plan" next week on how to restart the economy, reopen schools and help people travel to work following the coronavirus lockdown. | The PM added he would set out a "comprehensive plan" next week on how to restart the economy, reopen schools and help people travel to work following the coronavirus lockdown. |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the prime minister's commitment to outline a plan next week as "a step in the right direction". | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the prime minister's commitment to outline a plan next week as "a step in the right direction". |
| Shadow home secretary Mr Thomas-Symonds said Labour hoped the plan would set out the different possibilities for the future so public services could plan ahead. | Shadow home secretary Mr Thomas-Symonds said Labour hoped the plan would set out the different possibilities for the future so public services could plan ahead. |
| He added that the party would "scrutinise it extremely carefully" but hoped to be able to support the plan set out by the prime minister. | He added that the party would "scrutinise it extremely carefully" but hoped to be able to support the plan set out by the prime minister. |
| Meanwhile, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said any move to ease the lockdown in Wales would be "careful and cautious", adding that "we will have to take people with us". | Meanwhile, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said any move to ease the lockdown in Wales would be "careful and cautious", adding that "we will have to take people with us". |
| "You can open up anything you like - if people don't think it's safe to take up what is now available to them, they won't come," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "You can open up anything you like - if people don't think it's safe to take up what is now available to them, they won't come," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| Mr Johnson said that to avoid the "disaster" of a second peak the UK must keep the R rate - the number of people to which one infected person will pass the virus - below one. | Mr Johnson said that to avoid the "disaster" of a second peak the UK must keep the R rate - the number of people to which one infected person will pass the virus - below one. |
| The government's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, explained that as soon as the R rises above one you "restart exponential growth" and "sooner or later" the NHS would be at the risk of being overwhelmed. The current rate is thought to be between 0.6 and 0.9 across the country. | |
| The government has set out five tests that must be met before lockdown restrictions can be eased, including a "sustained and consistent" fall in daily deaths and being confident any adjustments would not risk a second peak "that overwhelms the NHS". | |
| The prime minister said it was "vital" to avoid a second peak "because that would really do economic damage", adding that the UK must "unlock the economy gradually" while also finding ways of continuing to suppress the disease. | The prime minister said it was "vital" to avoid a second peak "because that would really do economic damage", adding that the UK must "unlock the economy gradually" while also finding ways of continuing to suppress the disease. |
| He said dates and times of each individual measure would be driven "by where we are in the epidemic", and said the government was "being guided by the science". | He said dates and times of each individual measure would be driven "by where we are in the epidemic", and said the government was "being guided by the science". |
| "What you're going to get next week is really a road map, a menu of options," Mr Johnson said. | "What you're going to get next week is really a road map, a menu of options," Mr Johnson said. |
| Face masks | Face masks |
| Mr Johnson also said face coverings will be "useful" as part of the strategy for coming out of lockdown "both for epidemiological reasons but also giving people confidence they can go back to work". | Mr Johnson also said face coverings will be "useful" as part of the strategy for coming out of lockdown "both for epidemiological reasons but also giving people confidence they can go back to work". |
| The Scottish government already recommends people use face coverings when in shops and on public transport. | The Scottish government already recommends people use face coverings when in shops and on public transport. |
| Mr Jenrick told the BBC although masks had "only quite a modest difference from a health perspective", they may still give the public confidence to return to their daily lives. | Mr Jenrick told the BBC although masks had "only quite a modest difference from a health perspective", they may still give the public confidence to return to their daily lives. |
| In other developments: | |
| Are you trying to get a test for coronavirus? Have you already been tested? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you trying to get a test for coronavirus? Have you already been tested? 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 |