Covid: Government rejects Hull 'delayed tests' complaint

Hull's council leader has written to residents urging them to follow lockdown measures

The government has said there were no delays in delivering rapid coronavirus tests kits to Hull.

Earlier, the prime minister pledged to "immediately" investigate why the kits had not yet arrived.

Hull was due to receive 10,000 "lateral flow" kits as part of a national rollout announced on 10 November.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it would send the tests "once delivery information" was received from the local authority.

Hull City Council has been approached for comment.

The city continues to have the worst infection rates in England, with 568.6 cases per 100,000 people in the week to 19 November.

Hull North Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson raised the issue on Monday in the House of Commons.

She said: "Two weeks ago Hull was promised 10,000 lateral flow tests, but they still have not arrived.

"Shouldn't the prime minister focus on delivering on the ground what has already been announced, rather than grand new promises?"

Mr Johnson replied: "I will take up immediately the point she makes about Hull and try to understand why they haven't got the lateral flow tests that she rightly wants to see."

However, the Department of Health and Social Care later said there had been "no delays in delivering tests to Hull".

"We have requested the delivery information from the Local Authority and once this is received the tests will be sent," a spokesman added.

Last week, Hull City Council leader Stephen Brady wrote a letter to residents urging them to strictly follow lockdown measures imposed by the government on 31 October.

In the letter, he said: "This really is our final chance to stop the spread by staying apart and thinking of others."

He warned restrictions for the city were "expected to remain severe" after the current national lockdown ends on 2 December.

According to figures from Public Health England, Hull's infection rate has been slowing down but is still the highest in the country.

The city's rate has fallen from 779.9 per 100,000 people in the week to 12 November.