Covid hope: Hugs in time for Christmas
BRITONS could enjoy a normal Christmas with family get- togethers and hugs this winter if mass coronavirus testing is successful, Matt Hancock claims.
The Health Secretary insists his plan for widespread, rapid checks for the disease across the country was the best hope for easing social-distancing measures.
He also refused to dispel the chances of a vaccine becoming widely available for use before the festive season.
Mr Hancock said: “I hope that if this mass testing regime comes off, if the new technologies work, or if we manage to get a vaccine between now and then – which we cannot rule out – I hope we can have the happy and loving Christmas that people yearn for.”
He delivered his upbeat assessment of the effort to tackle the Covid- 19 pandemic in a round of media interviews to highlight a £ 500million Government investment in community testing trials.
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Mr Hancock added: “Short of a vaccine, this is the best chance we have of reducing social distancing while controlling the virus, especially with winter coming, with all the challenges that brings.”
He also claimed the NHS Test and Trace programme is a key reason why the UK is not suffering a similar new surge in coronavirus cases as are other European nations.
“In other European countries we’re seeing this big second spike,” he said. “Here the cases are broadly flat, partly because of our Test and Trace system working so effectively, partly because of the quarantine and the social- distancing policies.”
But Mr Hancock acknowledged that a possible second coronavirus wave remains a threat in the UK, admitting: “We’re very worried about it.”
He defended the testing regime, claiming it was progressing efficiently, despite reports that some people are being directed to centres more than 100 miles from their homes for the checks.
The health minister said: “At the moment, the system works well. Of course, there are operational challenges from time to time but it works well.
“We’re finding a higher and higher proportion of people in the country who have coronavirus and getting them tests so they can be looked after.
“But we need to roll out more testing – we have done throughout this crisis and today’s another step in solving some of those problems with the existing technology.”
In a plea to the public to volunteer for testing, he added: “If you have symptoms, please come forward and get a test.
“It is straightforward. It is easy and the vast majority of people get one close to their home.”
Mr Hancock’s new £ 500million funding package is aimed at supporting trials of a 20- minute Covid19 test and backing up efforts to explore the benefits of repeatedly testing people.
Money will go towards launching a new community- wide repeat population testing trial in Salford, Greater Manchester.
Existing trials in Southampton and around Hampshire, using a no-swab saliva method and a rapid 20- minute test, will also be expanded through this new funding.