Michael Gove admits coronavirus infection rates are doubling every three days as he reveals TWO MORE emergency hospitals will be built to deal with the onslaught of cases
Michael Gove has admitted coronavirus infection rates are double every three days in the UK and two more emergency hospitals will be built to deal with the crisis.
The Cabinet minister said the virus was continuing to run rampant throughout the UK and highlighted the need for people to stay at home.
Mr Gove was standing in for Boris Johnson at the Government’s daily news briefing after the PM tested positive for the killer disease.
He told the daily Downing Street conference: ‘The best scientific advice now is that the rate has been doubling every few days.
‘These figures are a powerful reminder of the need for all of us to act. We need to slow the spread of the virus.
‘This is a united national effort and the spirit of selflessness shown by so many is truly inspiring.’
The UK’s coronavirus death toll today jumped by a third to 759 after officials announced 181 more victims of the killer infection in the biggest daily rise.
Health chiefs also confirmed almost 15,000 Britons have now caught the virus, with 2,921 new cases of the deadly virus recorded in just 24 hours. The jump of 25 per cent in a single day marks another record high.
Michael Gove has admitted coronavirus infection rates are double every three days in the UK and two more emergency hospitals will be built to deal with the crisis
Michael Gove also promised to ramp up the UK’s testing capacity – something the Government has been repeatedly slammed for.
Currently tests are only routinely given to people so ill they have to go into hospital, or those who are already on wards – even NHS staff don’t get tested.
Only 8,000 tests are conducted each day. Mr Gove said the Government brought together universities, businesses and research institutes in a ‘new alliance’ to boost testing capacity for frontline workers.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told the daily Downing Street press conference: ‘Today I can announce that the Prime Minister has brought together businesses, research institutes and universities in a new alliance to boost testing capacity for frontline workers.
‘This will be antigen testing – testing whether people currently have the disease – so that our health and social care workers can have security in the knowledge that they are safe to return to work if their test is negative.
‘These tests will be trialled for people on the frontline starting immediately, with hundreds to take place by the end of the weekend – dramatically scaling up next week.’
Mr Gove thanked those working in the NHS and ‘all those involved in this effort to reinforce the frontline in the battle against the virus’.