Matt Hancock blames British public for taking too many coronavirus tests

The shameless Matt Hancock today blamed the British public for taking too much coronavirus testing after the testing system descended into chaos.

The Health Secretary tried to lay the blame after people with a cough and fever were told to travel more than 300 miles to get tested for Covid-19.

Yesterday, an NHS test director apologized and admitted that while the test sites had capacity, there was a “tight spot” in the labs that were processing the results.

However, Hancock, who has admitted that it will take “weeks” to solve the problem, decided to point the finger at the growing demand for asymptomatic people who, according to current rules, should not be tested at all.

The Health Secretary insisted that the test and trace system was “excellent” and claimed that the problems were due to the growing demand from people who were not eligible for a test.

Have you been told to travel hundreds of miles for a test in the last few days? Email your story to [email protected].

In most cases, people should only get tested for coronavirus if they have one of the three symptoms of Covid-19: cough, fever, or loss of taste or smell.

Hancock told Sky News: “In the last few weeks we’ve seen an increase in demand, including an increase in demand from people who are not eligible for testing, people who have no symptoms.

“We have seen an increase of about 25% of people who present without symptoms and are not eligible.”

Hancock stressed that anyone with symptoms of coronavirus should still get tested.

But he added that he had heard stories of schools sending a year-long group for a test, booming: “That’s not appropriate.”

And he told BBC Breakfast: “I’ve even heard stories of people saying ‘I’m going on vacation next week, so I’m going to get tested.’

“No. That’s not what the test system is for.

“The testing system is there to control this epidemic and we have to be more assertive, I’m afraid, with the rules on eligibility for testing.

“We could have been quite relaxed about that.”

Speaking to Times Radio, he added: “We are going to be more clear and strict about the eligibility requirements to get a test.”

Hancock didn’t immediately explain how.

Asked whether the system was failing, he told Sky News: “I completely reject the accusation, in fact quite the opposite.”

He said the UK has the largest per capita system in Europe and the highest testing capacity “that we have ever had”.

And he affirmed that 90% of people take a test 35 kilometers from where they live.

It came after a head of NHS Test and Trace apologized for the chaos-struck system, which has told people to travel hundreds of miles for a Covid-19 test in recent days.

Sarah-Jane Marsh, director of testing for NHS Test and Trace, insisted that all test sites have capacity, but said the labs that process the results are a “tipping point.”

Wait times for test results skyrocketed last month after an IT failure at a ‘Lighthouse’ megalab.

Then there was a wave of reports last week of people being told to travel hundreds of miles for a week.

On Monday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said now no one should have to travel more than 75 miles each way for a test, the distance from London to Portsmouth.

But it is understood that government officials are now aware that some spaces are offered over 75 miles.

A source in the Department of Health said officials were investigating a “very small number” of spaces outside the 75-mile radius and that the problem “will be fixed as soon as possible.”

Labor MPs shared examples of voters still being told to travel much further.

South London MP Helen Hayes shared a picture of a voter who was told to get tested in Fife, 355 miles away.

She tweeted: “This is absolutely unacceptable. When will local testing be available to my constituents?”

Another London MP, David Lammy, said a voter had been advised to take a test in Inverness.

Matt Hancock, questioned yesterday by the Commons Health Committee, admitted there had been “operational problems” and “a problem with a couple of contracts.”

He said: “It is a matter of a couple of weeks until we can solve all that in the short term, in the immediate term.”

The government has said new ‘Lighthouse’ labs will open in Newport and Charnwood in the coming months.