The Government today announced that all essential workers will be able to book coronavirus tests from tomorrow. Health Secretary Matt Hancock, speaking at the daily Covid-19 briefing, said the policy will extend to members of key workers’ households.
Individuals on the list will be able to book a test on the Government’s website. Previously, some workers with key symptoms – such as NHS staff, social care workers and emergency services – and their families were permitted to be tested.
Hancock said the expansion can happen because testing capacity has increased from 40,000 to 51,000 per day overnight – and means the UK is "ahead of our plans" to reach 100,000 per day by the end of the month.