April 10, 2020

expert reaction to number of tests for COVID-19 carried out by UK

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have announced the latest total number of tests for COVID-19 carried out in the UK – 316,836 tests on 256,605 people, with 19,116 tests carried out on 9 April.

Dr Rupert Beale, Group Leader, Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, Francis Crick Institute, said:

“It’s excellent news that our testing capacity is increasing. With contributions from research institutes and industry, as well as new large testing facilities it may be possible to reach the ambitious target set by the Health Secretary. It will be crucial to target this newly available testing capacity to help prevent transmission between key workers, as well as to help them get back to work sooner where possible.  I hope that when we have large scale testing capacity it will be efficiently linked to tracking technology. This could help save lives and also begin to allow the economy to recover.”

* www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public#number-of-cases-and-deaths

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