UK govt. sets goal of reaching 100,000 tests per day for covid-19

New Delhi: UK government has decided to set a goal of reaching 1 Lakh tests for coronavirus per day by the end of April. The 100,000 tests per day will be across all five areas by the end of the month.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock held a press briefing on Thursday to announce that the target for coronavirus is 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month, as he announced a five-pillar strategy for testing.

Matt Hancock said “We are in the midst of a war against an invisible enemy. It is a war in which all of humanity are on the same side.”

Matt Hancock confirms 100,000-a-day target includes both antigen tests – which show if you currently have Covid-19 – and antibody tests – which show if you had it in the past. Thus it’s not directly comparable to previous target of 25k a day.

Matt Hancock explains the two types of tests (1) swab test, test which clarifies whether a person has the virus, (2) blood test, test which looks at antibodies and clarifies whether a person has the immunity to the virus.

Matt Hancock said that 5,000 NHS workers have now been tested. He says 5.7% of NHS doctors are currently absent due to covid19.

Matt Hancock said, ‘I can announce I’m writing off 13.4 bn pounds of historic NHS debt. To put the NHS in a stronger position to respond to the pandemic… but to ensure stronger foundations for the future.’

He also said,’We did not start this crisis with a large diagnostics industry but that doesn’t mean we cannot build one.” Heralds a “new national effort for testing”. Sets goal of 100k tests a day by end of month.’

‘Brand new swab testing capacity delivered by commercial partners… this brand new service has just launched’ ‘tests at this facility to significantly increase from this weekend’, Matt Hancock added