Covid-19: Robert Peston tells James O'Brien why government aren't testing more people

1 April 2020, 14:54

Peston explains why government aren't testing more people for coronavirus

By Fiona Jones

Political editor Robert Peston explains to James O'Brien why the government are not able to test more people each day for coronavirus.

Robert Peston said the government have been "in touch a lot" trying to assure him that they are taking steps to improve the volume of testing, after the political editor sent Tweets last night questioning the amount of daily testing.

The test he was referring to is the test to discern whether someone has the virus and is infectious, as opposed to a blood test which determines if a person has built up immunity to coronavirus, having already had it.

He said they made the point that "if you look at why Germany has been successful in carrying out more tests it is because there are more labs in Germany creating these testing kits."

Mr Peston added: "The very specialised reagents that are the basis of the testing kits aren't made by just any old chemicals company."

The UK's Chemicals Industry Association told Mr Peston the basic ingredients of these reagents are not in short supply: "If the government had spoken to them about ramping up the capacity to turn those basic ingredients into the specialist reagents, they would have got right on it."

The body said they were surprised that they have not been approached by the government to engage in a national effort to correct the shortage, despite having a meeting yesterday with the business minister, Mr Peston said.

He referenced that the government launched a national effort to increase the supply of ventilators, using car manufacturers as resources.

"Why weren't they doing the same when it comes to testing?" asked Robert Peston, "It's a bit of a mystery and obviously a concern, particularly for people working in the NHS who can't work at the moment because they can't be tested."

He posited a reason for this; back in February when the government could have been acquiring significant stocks of tests, they took the view that the virus would not be as harmful as it turned out to be, and they also thought that herd immunity could be at least part of the solution.

"When we're through all of this there will have to be an inquiry about the misjudgement that was made and therefore why we moved late in the day to this suppression strategy."

"As part of a suppression strategy, you really do need to know who's got the virus so that those people, particularly in the NHS who don't have it, are able to work."

"My sense is that this is something the government has now recognised as a priority and one only has to hope they move heaven and earth to fix it."

For the other blood tests, said Robert Peston, he is looking for a definitive answer on when they may come into circulation.

More James O'Brien

See more More James O'Brien

Man whose parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7 says: We are on precipice of global war— Peace is possible.

Man whose parents were murdered by Hamas on October 7 says: We are on precipice of global war— Peace is possible

Full Disclosure live on stage with James O'Brien and Carol Vorderman: Buy your tickets here

Full Disclosure live on stage with James O'Brien and Carol Vorderman: Buy your tickets here

Exclusive
The Conservative Party Conference this year is more notable for who's not there than who is, both journalistically and possibly politically, says James O'Brien

After 14 years in power, Tories can't dodge responsibility for their mess, says James O'Brien

An LBC caller shared the shocking moment she discovered child sex abuse images on her ex-husband's computer

LBC caller shares harrowing moment she discovered child sex abuse images on ex-husband’s computer

Exclusive
'Messing with kids minds in a big way': Tony Blair calls for social media regulation as he admits 'we can't go on like this'

'Messing with kids' minds': Tony Blair calls for greater social media regulation, admitting: 'we can't go on like this'

Londoners to question the Mayor at annual State of London Debate with LBC

Londoners to question the Mayor at annual State of London Debate with LBC

Sacked borders watchdog David Neal said the Home Office is 'dysfunctional' and needs reform.

'It goes to the very top': Sacked border watchdog slams Home Office and calls for reform after Cleverly row

Exclusive
Shahd Waleed is trying to leave Rafah with her parents and enter Egypt

'They want us to experience pain': Young woman trapped in Rafah with her parents tells of terror as Israel invasion looms

Sir Keir Starmer has defended comments he made about Margaret Thatcher earlier this month.

Starmer defends Thatcher comments as he says he ‘completely disagrees’ with former prime minister’s politics

A caller to James O’Brien’s programme has shared footage of the extraordinary destruction done to his newly purchased property just outside of Durham.

Property investor's shock at 'unexplainable level of damage' he discovered after buying new home

Exclusive
James Cleverly replaced Suella Braverman as home secretary on Monday

'I've spent more time with James Cleverly this week than with Suella Braverman in the last year', Sadiq Khan tells LBC

James O'Brien discusses Suella Braverman's 'destructionist' leadership style with a caller

'She's a destructionist': James O'Brien caller claims Suella Braverman governs like 'a five-year-old'

James O'Brien

'She definitely has something on him': Caller and James O'Brien debate why the PM hasn't sacked Suella Braverman yet

'A complete reset of the top' is needed says caller.

'We're being let down': There is a 'complete disconnection' between parliamentary and local Conservatives says caller

James O'Brien

'It's essential that people are able to protest peacefully against war', says James O'Brien

James O'Brien

Rishi Sunak 'almost physically moves away' from Suella Braverman in House of Commons debate, says James O'Brien

James O'Brien

'Suella Braverman succeeded - she's caused hate', claims caller after Home Secretary criticises pro-Palestine marches

'A fish rots from the head': James O'Brien caller reacts to claims of misogyny in Downing Street during Covid Inquiry

'A fish rots from the head': James O'Brien caller reacts to claims of misogyny in Downing Street during Covid Inquiry

'Ludicrous, bogus, nonsense': James O'Brien is astounded by Boris Johnson 'laughing at Italy' during the pandemic

'Ludicrous, bogus, nonsense': James O'Brien is astounded by Boris Johnson 'laughing at Italy' during the pandemic

James O'Brien on Dagestan

'It's a hatred as old as religion itself': James O'Brien analyses escalating anti-Semitism after Muslim crowd storms Dagestan airport

Carol Vorderman shocked about UK Poverty

'One million children are living in destitution': Carol Vorderman struggles to comprehend stark wealth inequality in the UK

Wes Streeting on dentistry

Wes Streeting invites the government to steal Labour's policy to solve 'dickensian' NHS dentist crisis

James O'Brien

'I think they're the loneliest voters in Britain', James O'Brien claims after Tories' double by-election defeat

JOB and caller Andy

Biden's visit to Israel is to show that the US stands 'unequivocally' with Israel says James O'Brien caller

JOB and Usman

Israel's current response will only 'strengthen' Hamas by rearing Gazans who seek revenge warns this James O'Brien caller

JOB on deaths in conflict

James O'Brien unpacks the 'controversial' feeling of being 'equally devastated' by Palestinian and Israeli deaths

JOB on starmer speech

Keir Starmer is using 'working class as the opposite of having a sense of entitlement', notes James O'Brien

JOB on HS2 promises

James O'Brien criticises Rishi Sunak's watering down of 'illustrative' Network North projects funded by HS2 cut

Sadiq Khan and James O'Brien

Sadiq Khan declares there is 'no place for anti-Semitism' in London as kosher restaurant in Golders Green attacked

James O'Brien on the challenge HS2 scrappage poses to Labour.

‘How much can Rishi Sunak knock down before Keir Starmer becomes Prime Minister?, asks James O’Brien

James O'Brien

Rishi Sunak is like an 'incontinent cat': James O'Brien slams Tories ahead of PM's Party Conference speech

JoB and Jeremy Hunt

Navy veteran deeply hurt by Jeremy Hunt's plans to clamp down on benefit claimants