Yahoo News Coronavirus: Test centres almost empty as government struggles to meet 100,000-a-day target
Coronavirus drive-through test centres remain quiet, or even empty, as the government struggles to hit its target of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month.
Health secretary Matt Hancock on 2 April made the bold claim that testing for COVID-19 would reach six figures by the end of the month, but many centres are far from busy.
On Saturday, the UK carried out 21,626 tests for coronavirus, but the figure dropped to 19,316 on Sunday, according to the government’s own statistics.
In Germany, there are an estimated 50,000 tests each day.
It means the UK has just nine days to start carrying out about 80,000 extra tests per day to hit its own target.
More than 501,000 tests have been carried out so far in the UK during the pandemic, but with only 386,044 people tested.
On Monday, overall testing capacity dipped from 38,000 to 36,000 due to the implementation of new processes in commercial laboratories.
Of those admitted to hospital to test positive for coronavirus, 16,509 have died, the government says.
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There are 26 test centres in the UK for NHS staff and other key workers but photos have shown them relatively free of cars and empty for long periods.
The Daily Mirror reported that about 20 staff at a test centre at Chessington World of Adventures in Greater London had little to do on Monday, with very few cars going through.
The newspaper reported similar situations at centres in Cardiff, Brighton, Manchester, Gateshead and Salford, while empty centres have also been photographed in Plymouth, Coventry and Twickenham.
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On Tuesday, the Daily Telegraph reported that senior government figures are trying to distance themselves from Hancock’s 100,000 pledge.
But at the weekend, cabinet minister Michael Gove insisted the government is “on course” to meet the testing target.
Simon Clarke, minister of state for regional growth and local government, said on Tuesday there are plans to increase the number of testing centres from 26 to 50, following complaints some are too remote for key workers.
He said the government is working to ensure more key workers are eligible to have the tests so "every possible slot is filled" but admitted it is an "enormous challenge".
He added: “We are doing our very best to make sure that we hit that target."
Clarke told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was "highly unfair" to suggest that the government's ambition to reach 100,000 tests by the end of the month is not "empirically grounded".
He said: "We are absolutely determined across the whole of the UK to hit this target.
"We're increasing the groups of key workers who can go and be tested.
"I really do think it is unfair to suggest that we have continued business as usual. It has not been.
“It has been an extraordinary response that has saved lives and saved jobs, and I think on both counts we've done a lot of good work which is standing us in good stead."
