Newly developed ’15 minute’ Covid-19 tests touted by Donald Trump could help “save lives and jobs”, Boris Johnson said today.
During a Downing Street press conference, the Prime Minister gave an update on his so-called ‘Moonshot’ plan to introduce rapid testing at an unprecedented scale.
He said: “We’ve already bought millions of these tests, some of which are very simple – meaning you simply need to wipe the swab in your mouth and can give a result as quickly as in 15 minutes.”
He said work had been started to manufacture the tests domestically, to ensure the UK can produce millions of the tests.
“Over the next few weeks we will start distributing and trialling these tests across the country,” he said.
“This will enable us to do quick turnaround tests on NHS and care home staff much more frequently.
“By testing more frequently and quickly than ever before, we can help prevent the spread of the virus spreading through care homes.”
Late last month, President Trump announced he was authorising the distribution of millions of similar tests, developed by Abbott Labs, to care homes and vulnerable people in the US.
The ‘BinaxNOW’ test costs $5 per unit and does not require processing in a laboratory.
While results are slightly less accurate than the gold-standard lab tests, they have been used for daily screening by President Trump, his family and senior staff the recent outbreak at the White House.
Mr Johnson went to say the tests could also be used to test students in universities and children in schools.
And they would be handed to local health authorities to help contain localised outbreaks.
But the PM said ramping up the tests will take time.
“No country in the world is regularly testing millions of people,” he said. “So we need to take the time to establish how to do this effectively and safely, and to build the logistics and distribution operation necessary for a large scale operation across the country.”
But he warned the tests would not allow businesses to get “back to normal” quickly.
He said: “In time we want to use tests to keep open more parts of the economy that have sadly been closed, but it is crucial that we make sure that such systems work safely.
“I must level with you, that it will take time to get this right before many organisations can buy and operate these tests themselves.”
He said it was key that people testing positive must isolate – issuing a reminder that the virus “thrives on physical contact.”
