Fresh 30-day track and trace deadline set as Matt Hancock speeds up war on coronavirus

Matt Hancock is set to announce the new goal at Friday's No 10 briefing
PA

Full-scale tracking and tracing of new coronavirus infections by the end of this month was today made an official Government target.

Tens of thousands of officials will be employed to chase down fresh outbreaks and instruct everybody at risk of being a carrier to go into isolation.

The move completes a fundamental shift in the UK’s approach to one closer to the German model of mass testing, tracking and tracing, which has achieved a markedly lower death toll there.

It was decided at this morning’s daily “war Cabinet” of senior ministers after a massive expansion of UK testing capacity in a month from just 10,000 to about 100,000.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is set to announce the new goal at tonight’s daily No 10 briefing — at the same time as revealing whether or not he met his ambitious target of boosting the number of daily tests carried out to 100,000 by the end of April.

“It is squeaky bum time,” admitted a Whitehall official ahead of the final figures this afternoon.

Sources close to Mr Hancock were optimistic he had crossed the line but said they would not know for certain until mid-afternoon.

Pre-empting tonight’s announcement, he said he would be demanding more ambitious targets for tracking and tracing, including a daily target for a quarter of a million tests and an army of 50,000 contact tracers rather than the 18,000 currently being recruited.

“Almost every country that has managed to get to the next stage has had testing and tracing as part of the strategy,” said Sir Keir.

“The UK needs to do that too. That means hitting the 100,000 tests a day target, but then going further.

“The Prime Minister previously promised 250,000 tests a day. The Government’s advisers will know whether that is precisely the right target. But I do believe the Government should recommit to such an ambition.”

Sir Keir said the 750,000 volunteers who answered the call to help fight Covid-19 should be put to the task and added: “This is what I will be suggesting to the Prime Minister when we speak next week.”

In further key developments:

In a new sign that the Government is preparing to encourage people back to work, rail companies have been told to be ready to run a service at about 75 per cent of normal capacity, similar to Saturday services, from May 18.

Europe starts to ease itself out of Coronavirus lockdown

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However, sources said no decision has been made and social-distancing restrictions would probably mean fewer people in each carriage.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford appealed to the Government to increase the conversation with the public about easing the lockdown so people felt “safe and confident” going back into non-essential shops, libraries and other venues when they re-open.

“A plan that comes like Moses coming down from the mountain is not going to work,” he said.

Golf and other outdoor activities could be restarted soon, Mr Jenrick said.

“We know that the rate of transmission is much lower outdoors, so there’s much more scope for people returning to work on building sites for example, or more outdoor leisure activities,” he explained.

Ryanair said up to 3,000 jobs across flight deck and cabin crew are to be cut in a restructuring programme could also involve unpaid leave and pay being slashed by up to 20 per cent.

Mr Jenrick indicated that face coverings in public and on public transport will be part of the plan to exit lockdown and get people back to work. But he added they made only a “modest difference” to the virus’s spread.

The interview with Sir Keir was conducted at opposite ends of a long conference table at the leader of the opposition’s office to conform with social distancing.

He said Labour will not call for the Health Secretary’s resignation if, as many critics have predicted, the Government missed its target to test 100,000 people a day. “I don’t think calling for resignations is constructive opposition at this stage,” he said.

On party matters, he claimed he had won a “clear mandate” to crack down on “factionalism” in Labour.

“If we just spend time taking lumps out of each other, we’re going to lose the next general election,” he warned. “Factionalism will destroy the Labour Party if we don’t unify.”

Sir Keir said a pay rise was in order for NHS staff and carers, saying: “We need to revalue what counts. We can’t go out and clap carers every Thursday night at 8pm and then go back to business as usual. Many are underpaid and undervalued.”

Setting out his plans ahead, Sir Keir said winning the next election in 2024 was paramount. “Losing is not changing lives. And if you’re in Opposition, you’re losing,” he said.

Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast

He also revealed he has had only two conversations ever with Mr Johnson — one when he was elected Labour leader and the second when they discussed coronavirus by phone this week.

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