“They need people”
Liz Christie, an education support worker from Slough, Berkshire, successfully applied for a coronavirus test early on Friday.
She said was keen to get a test after developing a cough and sore throat, as she wanted to return to work at Slough Children’s Services Trust.
“I don’t want to infect the children and families I’m working with, plus my own family,” she told BBC News.
Speaking after her test at a drive-through center in Wembley, north-west London, Ms Christie said the process was “brilliant” but added that there were not many other People getting tested at the same time.
“It looks like there’s five stations set up,” she said. “All the stations were empty except mine, there were two cars in front of me and no-one behind me.
” They’ve got the infrastructure in place, they just need the people now. “
Also speaking at the daily press briefing, the government deputy chief medical adviser, Dr Jenny Harries, said the increased testing would mean there would be a less positive picture on the number of Covid – 19 cases.
She stressed that the test on offer to key workers was the “Have you got it now?” test, and said it would be a “wasted test” if it was used by people who did not have symptoms, or people in their households.
Friday’s figures showed 48, 720 tests were carried out, though the government says that capacity has reached more than , a day.
The latest data also showed a further 684 people died with the virus in UK hospitals, bringing the total number of deaths to 28, (Transport support
Also at the briefing, Mr Shapps announced the government would subsidize key supply routes to ensure that essential medi cal supplies and food can be transported during the pandemic.
With large sections of the economy frozen, volumes of freight coming in and out of Britain are significantly down.
(Up to £) m has been made available for supply routes between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, and up to £ 17. 5m for ferry and freight services to the Isle of Wight and Scilly Isles.
Further support is available for critical routes between Britain and the European mainland, including Eurotunnel , Mr Shapps said.
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