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Coronavirus latest news: Target of 200,000 tests reached a day early

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Coronavirus Article Bar with counter ..

The Government's target to get to a capacity of 200,000 tests per day has been reached a day early.

A total of 205,634 tests were available on Saturday, according to the Department for Health and Social Care, which included 40,000 antibody tests available to NHS staff and care workers.

A system described as surveillance testing is also under way to develop a greater understanding of how the virus is moving through the population, with more than 250,000 conducted across the UK so far.

Mr 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.

"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.

"This is by no means the end of our ramping up of testing.

More than 150 drive-through and mobile testing sites have been set up to help achieve the target.

Professor John Newton, national testing co-ordinator, added: "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."

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