Hancock Downplays Hopes New Tests Will Be Covid ‘Game Changer’

(Bloomberg) --

U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to put a timeframe on introducing mass testing for coronavirus, after months of U-turns and criticism over the response of Boris Johnson’s government to the pandemic

Unveiling a program to invest 500 million pounds ($665 million) in developing rapid test technologies to help revive the ravaged British economy, Hancock was careful to downplay hopes it would quickly bring life back to normal.

“It’s impossible to know because the machines haven’t been built yet,” Hancock told the BBC when asked when rapid-turnaround saliva tests would be available nationwide. “I’m relying on brand new technology, we’re working with the companies so they can manufacture these kits as fast as possible,” he said. “I’m absolutely driving this as fast as is humanly possible.”

Johnson’s government has been beset by setbacks as it battled the pandemic, which has resulted in an official death toll of over 41,000 and plunged the U.K. into its worst recession for 300 years. The prime minister’s attempts to get people back to work have been undermined by a lack of confidence in measures to protect people from the disease and confusion over lockdown restrictions.

The investment in new technology also comes amid reports the existing coronavirus testing program is struggling to keep up with demand. Some people applying for tests have been asked to drive hundreds of miles because their local centers are overbooked.

‘Challenges’

Public Health England wrote to schools as they reopen this week to say requests for tests should be limited only to children with symptoms to avoid the system being overwhelmed.

Hancock acknowledged “operational challenges” but said the “vast majority” can test locally and get a result the same day or within 24 hours.

“I want to solve the problem by having the next generation of tests at a radically bigger scale, and you can’t do that on the current technology very easily,” he said.

Covid-19 testing has been a contentious issue in the U.K. throughout the pandemic, after officials decided in March to conserve capacity by halting tests in the community. The government then faced issues ramping up production and was heavily criticized for falling behind countries including Germany.

Ramping Up

Hancock emerged from a week in self-isolation with Covid-19 symptoms at the beginning April to pledge a huge ramping-up of the testing program, which now has capacity for about 350,000 a day.

The next challenge is how to produce a testing program with results available in about 20 minutes, which could ultimately mean people get repeat testing -- even on a weekly basis -- to break chains of transmission more quickly.

The U.K. is working with 100 different companies on developing the tests that will allow social-distancing rules to be relaxed and for life to return to something closer to normal, Hancock said. But asked directly during his media round if the tests could be the “game changer” -- a term previously used by Johnson -- Hancock was cautious.

“I hope if this mass testing regime comes off, if the new technologies we’re working so hard on work, than I hope we can have a happy and loving Christmas that people yearn for,” Hancock told the BBC. “We will do absolutely what we can to keep people safe.”

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.