Date Time
UK Government to deploy first British-manufactured rapid lateral flow antigen tests for COVID-19
The Government has ordered two million of the first British-manufactured rapid lateral flow antigen tests for COVID-19 to be validated by Public Health England, for use in asymptomatic testing, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.
Derby-based company SureScreen Diagnostics is to provide two million of the lateral flow tests, which provide results in under 30 minutes, by next Friday (15 January), with the potential to provide millions more in the coming months.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
It is excellent to be working with a UK firm to deliver millions of these rapid tests, which are being deployed across the country to help protect our communities and most vital public services.
10 January 2021
The government has ordered 2 million of the first British-manufactured rapid lateral flow antigen tests for COVID-19 to be validated by Public Health England, for use in asymptomatic testing, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has announced.
Derby-based company SureScreen Diagnostics is to provide 2 million of the lateral flow tests, which provide results in under 30 minutes, by next Friday (15 January), with the potential to provide millions more in the coming months.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said:
It is excellent to be working with a UK firm to deliver millions of these rapid tests, which are being deployed across the country to help protect our communities and most vital public services.
Thursday January 7, 2021, 2:01 PM
More than half a million people have been contacted by NHS test and trace and told to isolate over the festive period - the highest record ever.
In total during the week of 24 – 30 December, 684,747 people who had tested positive for Covid-19 and their contacts were reached and told to self-isolate, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
A total of 311,372 people tested positive for Covid-19 in England at least once in the week to December 30, according to the latest Test and Trace figures.
This is up 24% on the previous week and is the highest weekly total since Test and Trace began in May.
Number of positive cases up by 24.0% compared with previous week
Test and Trace succeeded in reaching 84.9% of people who tested positive and 96% of their contacts
Proportion of in-person test results received within 24 hours has almost doubled since previous week
New lab partnership with Queen Mary University further boosts capacity
NHS Test and Trace is successfully reaching more people than ever before, despite the anticipated challenges of operating over the festive period. In total during the week of 24 to 30 December, 684,747 people who had tested positive, and their contacts, were reached and told to self-isolate, many of whom might otherwise have unknowingly spread the virus to their loved ones. This is an increase of 124,126 compared with the previous week.