Covid-19 Response

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:57 pm on 22 April 2020.

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Photo of Matthew Hancock Matthew Hancock Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 12:57, 22 April 2020

The target was set at 100,000 because that is what we estimated was needed—scientific advice was provided into that target—and it is what is practically achievable. As I said, we are ahead of our trajectory on capacity, but we need to make sure that demand increases. Increasing demand is about widening access to this testing. We did take scientific advice. I am not sure whether that came directly through the SAGE route or directly from Public Health England, but of course these decisions are based on the science.