This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
200,000 testing capacity target reached
The government has announced that the UK has reached the 200,000 capacity target on Saturday 30 May, including capacity for 40,000 antibody tests a day.
In recent weeks, the capacity of NHS and Public Health England labs has been more than doubled, over 150 drive through and mobile testing units are now in operation, and new innovative testing solutions such as home testing kits and lab-based antibody tests have been introduced from scratch.
The government says that the 200,000 testing capacity target was reached on 30 May.
The increased testing capacity has now allowed for the rollout of the new NHS Test and Trace system, which will identify and isolate new cases of the virus, controlling its spread and helping to gradually and safely ease lockdown measures.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "Reaching our 200,000 capacity target is an important milestone on our journey to control the spread of the virus, save lives and gradually ease lockdown. By rapidly expanding our testing capacity, we have been able to introduce NHS Test and Trace, and enabling those who have coronavirus symptoms to get a test is an important part of the programme.
"I want to thank and pay tribute to the incredible team who joined together in one of the greatest national mobilisations that we’ve seen. We brought together the best minds in the civil service, NHS, PHE, universities and the scientific community, the armed forces and private sector companies across the globe to reach this incredible achievement. This is by no means the end of our ramping up of testing. We will continue to build upon the tremendous work so far, exploring new technology and deliver even more test results."
National Testing Coordinator Professor John Newton added: "The expansion of our testing capacity has allowed us to take important steps to control the virus, including the introduction of a world-class contact tracing service that will help us to safely ease lockdown over time. I am proud to say that anyone in the country who needs a test can get one, regardless of where in the country they are. We will continue to develop and grow our testing capabilities, to learn more about transmission of the virus and how it has previously spread."
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