By Ben Kerrigan
Antibody testing could increase the likelihood of some people returning to work, according to Uk prime minister Boris Johnson.
In a video this evening, Boris Johnson said the government is “massively increasing testing”.
He said: “It is so important and as I have said for weeks and weeks, this is the way through. This is how we will unlock the coronavirus puzzle. This is how we will defeat it in the end.
“What we need to do is massively ramp up… not just tests so that you can know whether you’ve had the disease in the past – the so-called antibody test – because that will enable you to go to work in the confidence that you can’t be infected or infectious…
“Second, people need to know whether they haven’t got it, rather than isolating themselves at home for no reason, and that’s very very important above all for our NHS staff.
“And of course it’s crucial that people who do have the disease are able to be tested positive, and to take the necessary steps to isolate at home in the way that I’m doing and many many others are doing as well.”
Johnson’s last comments appears to distinguish between those completely isolating and the majority of people who are isolating but sometimes go to the shops or for a walk/exercise once a day. Those who know they have the coronavirus will be expected to isolate completely instead of going out to the shops regularly, even as occasionally as once a day.
In the meantime, the global suppliers of key chemicals called reagents are struggling to meet demand.The idea of antibody testing is appealing, but agreement about the reliability of its accuracy is low. Only recently, the Spanish government has withdrawn 58,000 Chinese-made coronavirus testing kits from use after it emerged that they had an accurate detection rate of just 30%.
OPERATION
Antibody tests are already in operation in China and South Korea, where the spread of the virus has been slowed by the traditional PCR testing of those with the symptom, isolating their contacts in the process. Experts say the labour intensive technology is made possible through phone apps, alert people who have been near others that have the virus. Mass testing is seen by scientists as the way forward and the safest and quickest way to return life and the economy to anywhere near normal.
SAD
Johnson’s comments followed further bad news fatalities had risen by 563 to a total of 2,352 as of 4pm on March 31.
“Let’s be in no doubt this has been a sad, sad day,” Mr Johnson said in a video message posted on Twitter.
“But let’s be in no doubt that if we can follow the programme that we are currently set upon, if we can comply with the measures that we’ve embarked on together, then I have absolutely no doubt that we will begin to start to push those numbers down.”