Coronavirus has infected 87,490 Britons – and that’s just those who have been tested. The scale of the pandemic can be much, much larger. New self-testing kits are on their way, and Dr Hilary states they could be a “game changer”.
The UK government has bought 3.5million coronavirus home-testing kits.
The finger-prick antibody test – that, yes, draws a drop of blood – detects if a person has had coronavirus and has since recovered.
This will reveal if the person has gained an immunity against SARS-CoV-2.
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antibody test, also known as a serological test.
Public Health England (PHE) said that a small number of tests would be tested in a laboratory before being distributed via Amazon and sold in Boots.
On Thursday March 26, on Good Morning Britain (GMB), Dr Hilary spoke about the self-testing kits.
He said: “It’s really important these [self-testing kits] are validated.
“The test has to be tested thoroughly first, and only then should it be brought out in a controlled fashion.”
The doctor continued: “It will be a game-changer if [the test] is specific and accurate.
“It takes time, it needs to be evaluated, but we’re getting there.”
At present, the test isn’t available to the public as it’s getting tested for accuracy.
There has been self-testing kits available for purchase online.
It’s advisable not to order these kits as they’ve not been thoroughly tested for accuracy.
This could then lead to misleading results. For instance, somebody may test negative for the virus and unwittingly pass on the infection to someone else.
To help curb the spread of infection, people are urged to stay at home within the next three weeks.
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said social distancing measures will be reviewed on a continuous basis.
Right now, there are only four permissible reasons to leave your home.
This includes shopping for basic necessities, such as food and medicines, as well as taking a daily walk or jog – as long as you stay two metres away from others.
It’s then essential to wash your hands as soon as you get home.
Police now have the capabilities to issue fines to those ignoring social distancing measures.
A gathering of more than two people – unless you’re living in the same household – can legally be dispersed by the police.
The social distancing measures came into effect from Monday March 23.
If the evidence shows, in a few weeks time, that coronavirus is more manageable, the measures will be relaxed.
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