Background info testing sites update11 Sep 2020 08:20
Hi all
Just found this in the latest test and trace update talks about the different tests and what’s happening
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/nhs-test-and-trace-statistics-for-27-august-to-2-september-released
Background information
We are increasing the number of testing sites to 500 by the end of October. We have more than 400 in operation, added 19 last week and expect 17 more this week.
We have increased the number of local or walk-in test sites to over 70 with further opening each week.
As part of the drive towards a target of 500,000-a-day testing UK capacity by the end of October the government has announced the addition of new Lighthouse laboratories in Newport and near Loughborough to the national lab network and work is ongoing to expand this even further in the coming months.
Testing per capita: Reporting methodologies vary, but data suggests the UK is testing at a higher rate per capita than countries of comparable size, including Germany and Spain. Currently, for every 1,000 people, the UK tests 2.54 people each day, whereas Germany tests 1.88 and Spain tests 1.91
Tests in the UK are carried out through a number of different routes:
pillar 1: swab testing in PHE labs and NHS hospitals for those with a clinical need, and health and care workers
pillar 2: swab testing for the wider population, as set out in government guidance
pillar 3: serology testing to show if people have antibodies from having had COVID-19
pillar 4: blood and swab testing for national surveillance supported by PHE, the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and research, academic, and scientific partners to learn more about the prevalence and spread of the virus and for other testing research purposes, such as the accuracy and ease of use of home testing
Regards
Bramley1967