Matt Hancock, who is chairing today's live Coronavirus press conference, says he has set a goal of 100,000 coronavirus tests per day by end of April.
The Health Secretary confirmed that the government's goal is to reach a 100,000-a-day target for both antigen tests, which show if you currently have COVID-19 – and antibody tests, which show if you have had it in the past.
The news comes after the government was criticised for not increasing the number of tests more quickly.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock says the Government is "setting the goal" for 100,000 COVID-19 tests a day by the end of April
— Sky News Breaking (@SkyNewsBreak) April 2, 2020
Speaking at the end of his seven days of quarantine after testing positive for the virus, Mr Hancock said: "I'm now setting the goal of 100,000 tests per day by the end of this month.
"That is the goal and I'm determined we'll get there."
NEW: Matt Hancock reveals one test he was urged to buy has now been found to have failed in 3/4 cases.
— Tom Harwood (@tomhfh) April 2, 2020
Testing the tests is crucial otherwise they are actively counterproductive.
Matt Hancock’s aspiration of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April, mirrors my own aspiration to lose 2st and develop a six-pack by about the same date.
— Colm Nugent (@Wigapedia) April 2, 2020
The government's target by mid-April was to test 25,000 per day. On Tuesday, just over 10,650 people were tested in England - although there is capacity for 12,799 daily tests.
The number of people with the virus who have died in the UK has risen by 569.