Coronavirus: Minister admits government may miss its own target of 100,000 daily tests

‘Even if we don’t hit it, and it’s probable that we won’t, we will in the next few days hit that target,’ says Robert Buckland

A senior Tory minister has admitted that the government is likely to miss its own target for 100,000 daily tests for coronavirus by the end of April.

Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, said the government “probably won’t” hit the ambitious goal set by Matt Hancock, the health secretary, in time, as ministers scramble to manage expectations.

But Downing Street insisted that Boris Johnson has not given up hope of meeting the deadline, telling reporters: “The target is for 100,000 tests and we are working hard to hit that.”

Mr Hancock announced the target as the government came under sustained pressure over lack of testing for NHS staff and other key workers, many of whom were concerned about self-isolating needlessly or passing on the virus unknowingly.

Testing capacity has been rapidly scaled up, with eligibility expanded in recent days to include people over 65 who are showing Covid-19 symptoms and asymptomatic residents and staff in care homes.

But Mr Buckland admitted that only 52,000 people had been tested yesterday – just over half the target – and the looming deadline was likely to be missed.

He told Sky News: “We’ll have the results I think tomorrow [Friday]. Even if we don’t hit it, and it’s probable that we won’t, we will in the next few days hit that target.

“We’re up to 52,000 people being tested, the capacity is rising, I think it was right to set an ambitious target.

“And you know, sometimes even if you don’t hit the target on the due date the direction of travel is the most important thing.

“I believe we’re going to get there and then move beyond it, because we need more.”

Mr Buckland said he was “frustrated” not to meet the target but he praised efforts to ramp up testing, adding: “I think we will get to that 100,000 in a few days.”

Mr Johnson’s official spokesperson said Mr Buckland was wrong to write off the government’s chances of success, but said he “absolutely” had confidence in the justice secretary’s grip of the situation.

“In terms of capacity, as of 28 April we got that up to 77,365. The target is 100,000 today and the health secretary and all his team are working hard to hit it,” said the spokesperson.

Daily testing numbers in hospitals and Public Health England labs are now being outstripped by the 42 commercially-operated drive-through sites around the country – some 17 mobile units are now conducting tests at care homes and other locations, and home-testing kits are being snapped up as fast as they are made available, at a rate of around 15,000 a day, the spokesperson said.

He added: “We have announced a fairly significant extension to eligibility – around 15 million people – and you’d expect it to take a little time for that to be reflected in the figures.”

The deadline comes as the body which represents hospital trusts said the fixation on 100,000 daily tests figure was a “red herring”, which was distracting from the overall strategy.

NHS Providers warned that the English health and care system “started from a poor position” and consistently “struggled” to demonstrate a “clear, effective and well communicated strategy”, with a lack of clarity on who would be tested, when, how, and with what frequency.

The report said members felt “on the end of a series of frequent tactical announcements”, with “no visibility on any long-term strategy”.

It said: “They are being expected, at the drop of a hat, to accommodate these changes with no advance notice or planning, despite the fact that many of the changes have significant operational impact.”

The report added: “The recent public focus on whether 100,000 tests will be performed on April 30 is a red herring.”