The Government has now announced that they will be opening up testing to up to 10 million key workers and their households. Previously almost all tests were taken by people with symptoms of coronavirus and NHS front line workers. A new website has been set up for people to apply for testing or people can book a test through their employer. The Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised by the end of this month, the UK would be able to test 100,000 people per day of COVID-19. However, on Thursday just 23,560 tests were administered, only around 20% of the Health Sectary’s target with just six days to go until the end of April. However testing capacity has now increased to 51,000 per day. 616 people also died from coronavirus in UK hospitals yesterday, increasing the UK total to 18,738 deaths from COVID-19.
People who can now apply for a test include teachers, police officers, bankers, NHS, social care supermarket and food production workers, journalists and transport workers. The goal is for key workers to be able to return to work, for example, if they believe they may have symptoms of coronavirus and therefore have been self-isolation, a test may be able to let them continue with their job. Hancock also announced a plan to recruit 18,000 people to enact contact tracing, which involves tracking where the virus has spread and waring healthy people if they may have been in contact with COVID-19.
Read more: Coronavirus home tests for key workers run out in minutes before drive-through slots also fully book up -
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