UK to Roll Out 5 Million Coronavirus Tests

Over five million coronavirus (COVID-19) tests that can detect the virus within 90 minutes will be distributed across the United Kingdom ahead of winter.

Speaking at a media briefing earlier this week, Matt Hancock – who serves as the country’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care – announced that these tests will be rolled out to local hospitals, care homes and laboratories to boost capacity in the coming months.

Comprising 5.8 million tests using DNA – as well as 450 000 swab tests – Hancock said: “The fact these tests can detect flu, as well as COVID-19, will be hugely beneficial as we head into winter, so patients can follow the right advice to protect themselves and others.”

Additionally, the tests do not require a trained health professional to administer them, meaning they can be rolled out in more non-clinical settings and self-administered.

The United Kingdom currently has 308 134 confirmed cases of COVID-19, making it the country with the twelfth highest infection rate in the world. Out of that total, 46 413 have succumbed to the virus.

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