Government promises key workers can book Covid-19 tests online - as death toll reaches 18,738

Mr Hancock is joined by Sir Patrick Vallance, Chief Scientific Advisor, and professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England.

UK hospital deaths are at 18,738 at the time of the conference, an increase of 616 in 24 hours.
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[christinagoodson]

What about the people in our country who have lived and worked all our lives and now have to be treated as if we were criminals, cannot even buy a pot of paint or have our grandchildren educated

[cinderball]

Let's make no mistake:
- there isn't enough testing going on
- there isn't enough PPE for essential workers
- the current crisis is entirely a result of the government's early "herd immunity" strategy.

This government has abjectly failed in its most basic duty: to protect its citizens.

[paulhoskin]

I tell you what all this is testing my patience

[tedcrilly]

Bring back the mad yoke with the hair. He was funny.

[davidcwatkins]

I can’t believe he does not know the numbers with out looking at a piece of paper and even then he got it wrong

[maryhewitt]

These figures doesn't add up,
17, 615 people are hospitalised out of them 18, 189 lost their lives?

[hopethisworks]

"Hancocks half hour" So these tests are only available for essential workers. You have to apply online then you get a E-mail to book an appointment. You eventually get an appointment, try to get to the testing area to have the test and then wait for the results via E-mail. He says that they are trying to make it "as easy as possible" . Not exactly the South Korea model is it?

[marvintpandroid]

Testing capacity vs numbers of actual tests performed is a good way to shift blame onto those who need testing.

[chatterbox]

How about thanking the Christians for staying out of the churches for all these weeks

[andyf]

About time we all got tested same as Germany ffs I'm not staying unemployed until Xmas or in for that matter

[tess]

Social distancing so many ppl are not doing this ... if you live in uk go over to arnos park .... it's like they are all in a different world its like this every day so how come no police or anything to stop this ???

[Whitesilver]

You should have done the testing and contract tracing back in March. It’s a bit too late for those families who lost their loved ones. Unavoidable deaths if the tories have done their fucking job.

[sillypuppy]

Flattening the curve by not adding deaths to the total for a couple of weeks.

[fairysox]

I cant believe he doesn't know he's 4 months into WWIII

[Aller]

Can somone please give this lad a test is us add just before he tries to tell us what's going on please respond as he will to. THANK YOU BRITON. YOUR LACK OF LEADERSHIP IS OUR AWARENESS OF THERE INCOMPETENCE.

[khalediqbal]

I'm from Bangladesh, longterm lockdown will start a famine in my country... millions will die due to hunger if not by 'COVID19/other virus'.

[World-On-Edge]

Thank you Ramadam Mubarich Stay home Safe NHS

[mrgrguy]

Such a patronizing guy, can't stand him.

[oopsadaisy]

A lot of these comments are scary! They highlight low mental capacities that are unable to absorb the full magnitude of this pandemic, understanding behind these heavy restrictions and serious complications that are being addressed everyday.

[shagyanangargamel]

Boris, ur cocoon is starting to smell