Just 2,000 NHS frontline workers tested for coronavirus so far

Only 2,000 NHS frontline workers out of about half a million have been tested for coronavirus so far, despite up to one in four being off work with suspected symptoms.

The government has said that a ‘clear instruction’ has been issued to hospitals to test as many staff as possible, with trusts allowed to decide how to split tests between workers and patients.

However, the latest figure of 2,000 workers tested in total shows about only 500 tests a day on doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical staff are being carried out. This follows growing concern over the UK’s testing capabilities, after Downing Street said that the current coronavirus testing capacity stands at 12,750 – but only 8,630 tests were carried out on 30 March.

The slow rate of testing has been blamed on a lack of some specialist chemical reagents and swabs.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock has ordered for all spare coronavirus tests to be used for NHS workers, as some initial figures suggested only a small proportion of those in isolation appear to be really sick with the virus. He has removed the cap on NHS staff being allowed access to only 15 per cent of testing capacity while 85 per cent was reserved for patients.

Experts have warned that the country will need to widen its testing to the general public if it wants to ease lockdown measures, so it can ensure those infected strictly observe the quarantine.

Labour’s Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary Jonathan Ashworth has called for a National Testing Strategy, community testing and contact tracing to break the chains of transmission of coronavirus.

He said: “We still don’t have the clarity we need from Ministers on how they plan to rapidly scale up testing to the levels needed. Many are asking why we’re still not doing 10,000 tests a day when countries like Germany have increased testing by huge volumes. Expert after expert have called on ministers to re-introduce community testing and contact tracing to break the chains of transmission. We’re calling on the Prime Minister to urgently publish a clear National Testing Strategy.”