Coronavirus: Government can't say how many test results are coming back within 24 hours – one day before deadline

Downing Street cannot say how many coronavirus test results are coming back within 24 hours – one day before Boris Johnson’s deadline for all to be returned that quickly.

The prime minister vowed that all tests in hospitals and drive-through centres would be processed within a day by the end of June, after criticism that delays are undermining the test-and-trace system.

But, asked if the target would be met, his spokesman said only: “That is what we are working to do” – suggesting no figures on the progress made so far were available.

The lack of data risks fresh embarrassment for No 10, after health secretary Matt Hancock was savaged for wrongly claiming to have hit his target of 100,000 daily tests by the end of April.

The 24-hour target was set by Mr Johnson on 3 June, after Dido Harding, the head of the test-and-trace programme, was unable to say how quickly results are available – allowing contacts to be warned.

However, No 10 immediately admitted the target would not include the huge number of postal tests, or possibly those sent to care homes.

The Independent, in an investigation today, revealed today NHS staff have reported waiting for as long as seven days for test results.

Asked about Tuesday’s deadline, the prime minister’s spokesman said only that he was “aware of it” and was talking to health officials “about how make information publicly available.

The admission came as he played down any prospect of roadblocks being set up to seal off entire areas where there were localised coronavirus outbreaks.

Mr Hancock is meeting local leaders from Leicester today to discuss the city’s Covid-19 flare-up and whether to stop the ‘Super Saturday’ reopening of pubs, restaurants and cultural venues in the city.

But, pressed on whether that could be extended to a full ‘local lockdown’ – stopping people from entering or leaving areas hit hardest by coronavirus – the spokesman suggested it would not.

“The priority would be to close down premises linked to outbreaks and, where people are considered to be at risk because they have come into contact with others confirmed as having coronavirus, telling them they need to self-isolate for 14 days,” he said.

Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary, has led criticism that there is a “golden 48 hours” to trace contacts, if fresh outbreaks of Covid-19 are to be identified and acted upon.

And the scientific advisory group Sage has also recommended 80 per cent of contacts are traced within two days to stay on top of the pandemic.

At prime minister’s questions, on 3 June, Mr Johnson told Mr Hunt: “I can undertake to him now to get all tests turned around within 24 hours by the end of June, except for difficulties with postal tests or insuperable problems like that.”

Downing Street later said this pledge did not cover the tens of thousands of home test kits sent out by post, which “understandably take a little longer”.

Source: UK Politics - www.independent.co.uk