Downing Street has admitted some coronavirus tests counted towards its 100,000 may never be performed. It was revealed on Friday that tens of thousands of at home tests a day are counted towards the daily figure when they are sent out by courier - rather than when they are processed by a lab.
Number 10 today said it was “perfectly possible that some people may choose not to return the tests.” But the Prime Minister’s Official spokesman said there was “no reason to suspect the public who are going to the website to order a test are doing so in anything but good faith”.
Some 85,186 tests were ‘provided’ in the 24 hours to 9am on Monday - well below the daily target set for the end of last month by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.