By Ben Kerrigan
The British government is aiming to carry out 100,000 coronavirus tests a day in England by the end of April, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, as he announced a “five-pillar” testing plan.
The new target includes swab tests (already in use) and blood tests, which are yet to be launched. It was originally thought the target would be for the whole of the UK, but the government later issued a correction saying the goal will only be for England. Mr Hancock said 100,000 tests “is the goal and I’m determined we’ll get there”.
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The target will included both tests to detect if a person is currently infected as well as antibody tests to determine whether someone has fought off the infection and has some level of immunity.“Germany could call on 100 test labs ready and waiting”, he said. “We have had to build from a lower base.”
Hancock added that the sourcing of reagents — proprietary chemicals needed to carry out the tests for the presence of the virus — remained a “challenge”.he government was also working with nine companies to get an effective antibody blood test approved. Once it is established what percentage of the public has been exposed to the virus, which will help inform the strategy for getting out of the current lockdown, he said.
Mr Hancock also announced on Thursday that the government was writing off £13.4bn of historic debt owed by NHS hospitals and had released £300m for community pharmacies.
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