Testing ready for over-65s and essential workers with coronavirus symptoms

Health Secretary Matt Hancock made the announcement at today's daily Downing Street briefing.

"It's possible because we've expanded capacity for testing thus far."

All those who are asymptomatic in care homes, including staff, could also access testing, he said.

The Health Secretary set out the latest testing and death toll figures.

There were 3,260 spare critical care beds across the NHS

Some 161,145 people have tested positive for coronavirus, an increase of 3,996

While 15,796 people are currently in hospital with coronavirus, 21,678 have died in hospital all together - an increase of 586 since yesterday's figures.

The overall death toll will be higher once deaths in care homes and other settings are included.

Mr Hancock said: "The proportion of coronavirus deaths in care homes is around a sixth of the total, which is just below what we see in normal times."

Changes to the publication of daily data was also announced.

The Health Secretary said that in an effort to "bring as much transparency as possible" to the death figures "from tomorrow we will be publishing not just the number of deaths in hospital each day, but the number of deaths in care homes and the community too".

"This will supplement the ONS and CQC weekly publication and all add to our understanding of how this virus is spreading day by day, and it will help inform the judgments that we make as we work to keep people safe," he said.

He said that this morning's minute's silence was a "solemn moment of reflection" for "the nation's fallen heroes".