Coronavirus: UK to double testing capacity by mid-April amid widespread criticism

Senior government officials have blamed a lack of materials for the testing shortage

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The UK government hopes to double its capacity to test people for the coronavirus amid criticism it is lagging behind other similarly affected countries.

Germany is testing roughly 70,000 people a day, but the UK has only carried out just 143,000 in total.

At least 25,150 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK and 1,789 have died.

Senior minister Michael Gove has blamed the lack of chemical agents needed to for test kits but on Tuesday conceded the government “must go further, faster”.

"We think within days we'll be able to go from our present capacity, as I say, of 12,750, to 15,000," Housing Minister Robert Jenrick told Sky News on Wednesday. He admitted test numbers needed to be increased “significantly”.

"And then mid-April is when we expect to be at 25,000," he added.

Testing has so far been mostly restricted to patients arriving seriously ill in hospital.

There has also been growing condemnation of a lack of tests for frontline health workers.

"It's been well over two weeks since the government said it was going to roll out priority testing for healthcare staff,” said British Medical Association Chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul.

"But many doctors still have no idea about where or how they can get tested."

Health workers in Britain have also complained of a widespread lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) with reports they are being threatened if they try to raise the matter further.

“Doctors across the frontlines are extremely concerned about the lack of personal protective equipment. Many have told us they have tried to raise concerns through the proper channels but have been warned against taking these concerns further,” said Dr Samantha Batt Rawden, of Doctors’ Association UK.

“At this time when we desperately need every single doctor on the frontline, some have had their careers threatened, and at least two doctors have been sent home from work. This is unacceptable. Doctors have a moral duty to make their concerns regarding Covid-19 public if these cannot be resolved locally,” she added.