Coronavirus testing for 7 million key workers and their families now available, Matt Hancock reveals

The Health Secretary expanded testing for Covid-19 to make sure millions more people more can get them - under radical plans to get the country moving again.

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The news means that anyone working in key industries - such as teachers, bankers or supermarket workers - can now get tested if they develop symptoms.

At least 10 million people are thought to qualify for the tests now, No10 think, and thousands will be able to go back to work if theirs comes back negative.

Brits without a car will be offered a home test, including swabs and instructions – with 1,000 kits sent out daily before the scheme is ramped up.

They will be delivered by Amazon within 24 hours, before being collected the next day by Royal Mail.

All those tested will get their results by text within 48 hours of having their swab taken.

The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a new web portal for employers and self-referral for key workers and their families.

Anyone can check if they are eligible and where they can get a test at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.

A helpdesk will be set up to deal with inquires too.

Mr Hancock said this evening that he wanted everyone who needed a test to get one in future.

He told the No10 briefing today: "From today employers of essential workers will be able to go on gov.uk to get a test for any of thieir workers.

"From tomorrow any essential workers who need a test will be able to book an appointment themselves.

"This also applies for people in essential workers' households.

"Those included will be based on the list for schools and education".

The whole process will be free and noone will have to pay out for the tests."

And he told the nation this evening is hiring at least 18,000 contact tracers to help track the disease's spread across the population.

They will use apps and other technology to find out exactly who anyone with symptoms has come in contact with, and alert them as to what they need to do.

Professor John Newton said this evening that the Government's target to test 100,000 people a day by the end of the month was still on track, despite just 20,000 taking place yesterday.

The total capacity for tests is now at 51,000, but demand for testing hasn't been as high as ministers hoped.

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There are now 31 drive through testing sites available across the country, but workers have told how they have to drive hours to get there.

There are plans to set up around 50 testing centres like this in the coming weeks. But those who can't get there will be able to access mobile testing units, or get them sent to their doors.

The five ways key workers and their families can get a test are:

1. Testing in NHS hospitals
2. Regional test centres in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
3. Satellite centres
4. Be sent a home test kit
5. Mobile testing units which travel around the country.

Until now, only limited numbers of Brits such as patients, health and care workers and some key public sector staff were eligible for a test.

Mr Hancock also used the daily briefing to urge thousands of members of the public to take part in a huge study to see who has had the virus already.

Antibody tests which show whether someone may have had the virus in the past will be landing on doorsteps tomorrow.

"Please if you are asked: take part in this vital research for your country," he said.

"The early signs from today are that there is huge enthusiasm for those who have received letters in this survey.

"If you get a letter, please respond to it as soon as you can because you will be doing your bit."

He also suggested that financial support was on the way for the families of those who had died on the NHS frontline fighting Covid-19.

MPs have demanded that the Government step up with a new scheme like those in place for war veterans, to make sure they aren't left struggling.

The Health Secretary said this evening: "Of course this is something I am looking into, and hope to be able to announce something on it very soon."

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It comes as half checks for the virus – around 25,000 - are currently going unused.

Ministers now want to offer them to the everyday heroes who have kept the country running during the lockdown.

Matt Hancock will also launch a publicity blitz to inform millions of Brits how they can get tested.

He wants to “help key workers return to work, which is key to keeping the country moving.”

Yesterday Mr Hancock told the House of Commons that Britain has reached the peak of the coronavirus outbreak.

He said that ministers were trying to ramp up contact tracing so that all Brits could get access to them in future.

A NHS app is also being developed to try and monitor people who develop the virus, and tell them who they are likely to have come into contact with.

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