Confusion over UK testing numberspublished at 10:21 British Summer Time 30 March 2020
Jessica Parker
BBC political correspondent
There’s some confusion over the number of tests being carried out each day to see if people have coronavirus in the UK.
On Sunday Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove suggested there had been 10,000 tests the previous day.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock likewise tweeted that the 10,000 test figure had been reached - with the aim of reaching 25,000 within weeks.
But now Social Care Minister Helen Whately says the government has in fact achieved the “capacity” for 10,000 tests – with the actual number carried out on the day in question being more like 7,000.
Adding to the confusion, Public Health England has tweeted, external that the latest figure, as of 09:00 GMT on Saturday, was 9,114.
We’re checking the figures with the government and Public Health England.
Testing is a sensitive matter, with the government under scrutiny over whether it has been aggressive enough in its approach.
So any apparent anomaly in the figures could raise further questions about whether ministers have a handle on this critical issue - and whether the claims they’re making on ramping up testing are all that they seem.