UK Ramps Up Coronavirus Testing to 25,000 a Day
Public Health England and the NHS are scrambling to boost daily COVID-19 tests to a whopping 25,000 within four weeks. Priority is clear: those most at risk get tested first.
Downing Street Pledges All-Out Support
Following a crunch meeting at Downing Street on Tuesday night, the Prime Minister and Health Secretary vowed to back industry leaders with whatever they need to supercharge testing nationwide.
The PM also slapped down a challenge to companies to fast-track a test that checks if people have developed immunity. The goal? Get NHS and frontline public staff back on the job faster.
Testing Moves Beyond Hospitals
The expansion includes new point-of-care swab tests outside hospitals, letting symptomatic Brits find out quickly if they’ve caught the virus. The UK already boasts one of the world’s most advanced public health systems, and was among the first outside China to have reliable coronavirus testing.
So far, over 50,000 tests have been done. With testing capacity ramping up to 25,000 daily, Britain could soon outpace China on testing numbers.
Current Testing Numbers and Surveillance
- Last week: 5,000 tests per day
- Next week target: 10,000 tests per day
- Within four weeks: 25,000 tests per day
Since late February, Public Health England has rolled out a surveillance programme testing a sample of the population. This helps track virus spread and guides decisions on public health measures.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock: “Public safety is my top priority, and radically ramping up testing for coronavirus is a key part of our plan to protect lives. We are already among the best in the world for coronavirus testing and today we are launching a national effort to increase our testing capability even further.”
“Our aim is to protect life, protect the most vulnerable, and relieve pressure on our NHS – so it is right that we prioritise testing for those most at risk of severe illness. We will always do the right thing at the right time, based on the best scientific advice, and will do whatever it takes to protect life.”
Professor Sharon Peacock, PHE: “This is a timely boost to the UK’s testing capacity, which is a vital element in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. By working together with industry we can increase the country’s testing ability – allowing us to better map the spread of infection in the community and to protect our healthcare workers on the frontline of our response.”
