LONDON (UK) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to ramp up coronavirus testing stating that it was the key to defeat the outbreak.
This comes not long after his government faced criticism for testing fewer individuals in comparison to its European peers.
Britain initially followed a restrained approach to the outbreak and has been on the receiving end of widespread criticism regarding the fact that it was carrying out far too few tests. This shone through particularly in instances of testing front line staff in the National Health Service for the virus.
“We’re also massively increasing testing. I want to say a special word about testing because it is so important. As I have said for weeks and weeks, this is the way through: this is how we will unlock the coronavirus puzzle, this is how we will defeat it in the end.”
– Boris Johnson, announced in a video message from a flat in Downing Street, where he is self-isolating after testing positive himself
In Germany, around 500,000 people have been tested a week. In comparison, Britain’s current capacity only allows for 12,750 tests a day.
The British government is aiming to double these figures by mid-April.
“What we need to do is massively ramp up not just tests so that you can know whether you have had the disease in the past – so-called antibody tests – so that will enable you to go to work in the confidence that you can’t be infected or infectious. Second, people need to know whether they haven’t got it rather than isolating themselves at home for no reason, and that’s very, very important above all for our NHS staff.“
– Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister
Ministers have suggested a shortage of necessary chemicals to being a factor, but the industry claims necessary reagents are being manufactured and delivered to the NHS.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.