Coronavirus news – live: Global cases hit 1m as death toll reaches 50,000, and UK government vows 100,000 tests per day
Health secretary Matt Hancock has vowed to conduct 100,000 coronavirus tests per day by the end of April after facing widespread criticism for failing to approach levels of testing in countries such as Germany.
Speaking in his first press conference since testing positive for the virus Mr Hancock, who has held a virtual meeting with the pharmaceutical industry to ask for help in scaling up capacity, also said he would write off £13bn of historic debt against the health service.
Downing Street has revealed that people could be given “immunity certificates” to prove they have recovered from coronavirus and can leave the lockdown early.
The move, already planned in Germany, will be considered if hoped-for antibody tests – showing a person was infected but is now healthy – become available on a mass scale.
The plans emerged as deaths in the UK rose by a record 569 in 24 hours, to a total of 2,921, health officials have announced.
Globally, coronavirus cases have pushed past 1 million mark after doubling in the space of eight days.
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