‘Game-changer’ coronavirus test will be available to hundreds of thousands ASAP, PM vows

A "GAME-CHANGING" new coronavirus test will be available to hundreds of thousands of Brits as soon as possible, the PM said today.

Boris Johnson said Britain is in talks to buy an antibody test which would be "as simple as a pregnancy test".

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The revolutionary new check tells you if you've had the killer bug.

If it finds you have already been infected - and are resistant to Covid-19 - it gives the green light for you to go back to work, and return to normal life.

Speaking at a daily press conference at Downing Street, he said: "We are in negotiations today to buy a so-called antibody test, as simple as a pregnancy test, that can tell whether you have had the disease.

"It is early days but if it works as its proponents claim, then we will buy literally hundreds of thousands of these kits as soon as practicable because obviously it has the potential to be a total game changer."

We are in negotiations today to buy a so-called antibody test, as simple as a pregnancy test, that can tell whether you have had the disease

Boris JohnsonPrime Minister

The government's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said: "We should be clear that although we're confident there will be antibody tests, we're not absolutely confident yet about whether the ones that are currently on the market are the right ones.

"That needs to be tested out and that's something that is an absolute priority for Public Health England.

"But once we have these, the key thing for in the first case health care workers and then other workers and members of society.

"We'll be able to say to somebody, you've had this virus, you're not likely to get it again at least in the immediate term.

"And now we can be confident you can return to work and now we can be confident you don't need to be taking some of the precautions you've been taking to date."

He added that "there will be a while before we've actually got this in large enough numbers" and it is "more useful" the further along in the outbreak to "help society to normalise".

Currently, the NHS only has a nasal swab test that can detect whether someone's current illness is Covid-19.

This is done through laboratory analysis and can take at least 24 hours.

But Mr Johnson revealed yesterday that a revolutionary new test which could determine whether some had already had the virus is fast "coming down the track".

He said: "The great thing about having a test to see whether you've had it, is suddenly a green light goes on above your head and you can go back to work, safe and confident in the knowledge that you are most unlikely to get it again.

"From an economic view and a social point of view, it really could be a game-changer."

Asymptomatic population

Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, explained that the test will give the first clear picture of how many people have actually been affected by the pandemic.

He said: "The reason it’s a game changer is that it allows you to understand the proportion of the asymptomatic population - who’s had this disease but hasn’t had symptoms that are in any way significant.

"We don’t have that number accurately for anywhere in the world at the moment so if we can get that number it can start to really help.

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"Going forward it’s going to be critically important to be able to monitor this disease well, because only by being able to monitor it can we start relaxing measures again, start understanding the effects of taking things off again at some point is."

Meanwhile, Dr Jenny Harries said there is also an "ambition" for people to test themselves from home.

The Deputy Chief Medical Officer said: "But, as we go forward, it is very much an ambition to have a home-based test, as we don't want infectious people arriving in hospital.

"We recognise the public, and particularly key workers, want to understand their health status."

'Turn the tide'

Also during today's briefing, Mr Johnson said the first British patient had been put in a randomised trial for a treatment for coronavirus.

He added that the UK could “turn the tide” of the coronavirus outbreak in the next 12 weeks if people take the precautionary steps the Government has outlined.

It comes as a further 29 people who tested positive for Covid-19 in England died today, taking the UK total to 137.

Around four in 10 coronavirus-related deaths in the UK so far have been in London.

Some 56 of the total 137 deaths have been recorded by hospitals or NHS trusts based in the capital.

The mortality rate in the UK suggested by the latest available figures is four per cent, but this should be treated with caution as the NHS is currently not testing people with mild symptoms who are self-isolating at home.

Were these included in the overall figures, it is likely the mortality rate would be lower.

Meanwhile, around 15,000 hospital beds are to be freed up as hospitals brace themselves for an influx of patients with Covid-19.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced that £2.9 billion of the Government's emergency Covid-19 fund would be allocated towards helping the vulnerable and ensuring capacity in hospitals.

DHSC said £1.9 billion is to be allocated to local authorities so they can sure up social care services and help services which care for other vulnerable groups including the homeless.

And £1.3 billion is to be used so the NHS can "enhance" its discharge process so that patients who "no longer need urgent treatment can return home safely and quickly".

The funding will cover the follow-on care costs for adults in social care, or people in need of additional support, when they are out of hospital and back in their homes, community settings, or care settings, DHSC said.

It is hoped that the measures will mean that "at least" 15,000 hospital beds will become available, ready to treat people in urgent need of care.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This funding will help the NHS and social care services in our communities to rise to this once in a generation challenge by allowing the NHS to do what it needs to, and help move people out of hospital as soon as possible to get them back home with the right support.

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"We are clear that we will do whatever it takes to protect lives and protect our NHS."

Chancellor Rishi Sunak, said: "I've been clear that the NHS and other vital public services will receive whatever they need to protect people from Coronavirus.

"Our £5 billion Budget response fund is now being used to free up more beds in hospitals and ensure some of our most vulnerable people are getting the care they need."