UK 'has met' goal of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day, health secretary Matt Hancock announces

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock during today's media briefing in Downing Street.

The Health Secretary revealed in today's daily briefing that the "audacious" goal had been exceeded, with 122,347 tests carried out on the last day of April.

He said: "I knew that it was an audacious goal, but we needed an audacious goal, because testing is so important for getting Britain back on her feet.

"I can announce that we have met our goal. The number of tests yesterday, on the last day of April, was 122,347.

National Medical Director at NHS England Stephen Powis, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock and Director Health Improvement at Public Health England Professor John Newton during today's media briefing in Downing Street.

"This unprecedented expansion in British testing capability is an incredible achievement, but it is not my achievement, it is a national achievement."

The Secretary of State added that the increase in testing capacity was "crucial" in suppressing the virus and would "help every single person" in the country.

"This was achieved by a huge team of people working together," he added.

"They thrived because the team contained diversity of perspectives, background and, critically, diversity of thought.

"And when things went wrong, which they did every single day, believe me, we didn't ask who we could blame, we asked how we could fix it.

"To my team, I want to say you toiled tirelessly night and day and I'm so proud of what you have achieved.

"To all of you, on behalf of Government, on behalf of the whole country, thank you."

National testing co-ordinator Professor John Newton told the press conference: "Back in March the country moved into lockdown because the country was circulating widely, not because we didn't have enough tests.

"Cases were popping up with no obvious connection to other cases and the infection was entering the exponential growth phase and at that point access to limitless testing even if we had had it would've made no difference. The decision to enter into lockdown would have been the same and would've been taken at the same time."

Of the 122,347 tests performed in the 24 hours up to 9am on Friday, 27,497 were home kits delivered, Prof Newton said.

He said a further 12,872 tests were delivered through the Government's satellite process - where test kits are delivered to centres such as hospitals and NHS sites.

Mr Hancock said that over the entire testing process, 1,023,824 tests had been carried out.