UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has announced 500 500 million (6 665 million) for rapid Covid-19 testing and capacity building amid complaints from members of the public about “operational challenges”.
Speaking at the BBC Breakfast on Thursday, Hancock said there was still a significant demand for testing among the British public, adding that the government had “placed a large amount of testing in areas of epidemics where the number of cases is much higher.”
He said when someone is unable to take the test at their nearest center, even if it is across the country, they are given the test at a place where one is available.
There have been reports in the UK media that test takers have been directed to tests at centers more than 100 miles away.
“Most people get a test really easily, it turns out, the next day you get the result,” Hancock said.
The new investment in testing “will help solve the problem by radically scaling the next pay generation,” Hancock said, adding that he wants to get to the point where “the lab is behind a van.” And can easily travel to hotspots.
The UK Health Department said in a press release on Thursday that the first phase would begin soon with the launch of a “community-wide new” deployment in Selford to assess the benefits of a repeat population test. The Selford initiative aims to process up to 250 tests a day The department added that “the new funding will be expanded to Southampton and Hampshire, using promising tests, saliva testing and a 20-minute rapid test.”
When asked how fast testing would be widely available to the public, Hancock declined to go into clarification, saying reliance on “brand new technology” prevented him from providing a specific date.
Hancock said the health department is working with a company to “produce this kit as quickly as possible” with the new funding. Hancock added that three of the 100 companies the government is currently working with have been tested.
He also said the UK government would not apply testing at British airports upon arrival. “You get the virus,” said Hankock. “Scientists believe that testing on the day of the return can detect only 7% of the total cases.” He pointed to “the countries of the world that introduced this test at the time of arrival” who “are now moving away from it and doing the tests much later.”
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