UK weekly coronavirus figures hit highest levels since end of May
3 September 2020, 11:26 | Updated: 7 June 2023, 08:56
The UK has seen the highest number of Covid-19 infections since the end of May, NHS figures have shown.
Test and Trace figures show 6,732 new cases were confirmed between 20 - 26 August, which is an increase of 6 per cent from the previous week.
It is the highest number of cases confirmed since the week leading to 3 June.
But the number of tests being carried out then and now have vastly improved, potentially meaning the rise could be down to more people being tested.
The news comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock earlier revealed Test and Trace has finally hit its target of reaching 84 per cent of contacts of confirmed cases.
It was also announced today that the government is funnelling £500 million into trials for Covid-19 tests which will give results in just 20 minutes.
Speaking with LBC's Nick Ferrari on Thursday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the quick tests would give people 'confidence' in getting back to work.
Matt Hancock says fast Covid-19 tests will help people go back to work
that although Britain has one of the biggest testing regimes on the planet, he wants it to go further to help life get back to normal.
“Over the past few months we’ve massively expanded the coronavirus testing as a country, and now have one of the biggest testing programmes in the world," he told Nick.
“But I am not satisfied with that.
“We know that other than social distancing, testing is one of our primary defences against the virus, to find the people that are positive and for them and their contacts to isolate so that we can stop the spread of the virus.
“At the moment that is working and that is effective. But the tests have to go off to a lab, it normally takes 24 hours for them to come back.
He added that that although Britain has one of the biggest testing regimes on the planet, he wants it to go further to help life get back to normal.
“Over the past few months we’ve massively expanded the coronavirus testing as a country, and now have one of the biggest testing programmes in the world," he told Nick.
“But I am not satisfied with that.
“We know that other than social distancing, testing is one of our primary defences against the virus, to find the people that are positive and for them and their contacts to isolate so that we can stop the spread of the virus.
“At the moment that is working and that is effective. But the tests have to go off to a lab, it normally takes 24 hours for them to come back.
More to follow...
