‘Even if we don’t hit it, and it’s probable that we won’t, we will in the next few days hit that target,’ says Robert Buckland

A senior Tory minister has admitted that the government is likely to miss its own target for 100,000 daily tests for coronavirus by the end of April.
Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, said the government “probably won’t” hit the ambitious goal set by Matt Hancock in time, as ministers scramble to manage expectations.
Mr Hancock announced the target as the government came under sustained pressure over lack of testing for NHS staff and other key workers, many of whom were concerned about self isolating needlessly or passing on the virus unknowingly.
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Testing capacity has been rapidly scaled up, with eligibility expanded in recent days to include people over 65 who are showing Covid-19 symptoms and asymptomatic residents and staff in care homes.
But Mr Buckland admitted that only 52,000 people had been tested yesterday – just over half the target – and the looming target was likely to be missed.
He told Sky News: “We’ll have the results I think tomorrow. Even if we don’t hit it, and it’s probable that we won’t, we will in the next few days hit that target.
“We’re up to 52,000 people being tested, the capacity is rising, I think it was right to set an ambitious target.
“And you know, sometimes even if you don’t hit the target on the due date the direction of travel is the most important thing.
“I believe we’re going to get there and then move beyond it, because we need more.”
Mr Buckland said he was “frustrated” not to meet the target but he praised efforts to ramp up testing, adding: “I think we will get to that 100,000 in a few days”.
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It comes as the body which represents hospital trusts said the fixation on 100,000 daily tests figure was a “red herring”, which was distracting from the overall strategy.
NHS Providers warned that the English health and care system started from a poor position and consistently struggled to demonstrate a clear, effective and well communicated strategy, with a lack of clarity on who would be tested, when, how, and with what frequency.
The report said members felt on the end of a series of frequent tactical announcements, with no visibility on any long-term strategy.
It said: They are being expected, at the drop of a hat, to accommodate these changes with no advance notice or planning, despite the fact that many of the changes have significant operational impact.
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Silence for key workers who lost lives to coronavirus
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Staff react outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute’s silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
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Staff inside Camberwell bus depot in London, during a minute’s silence
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NHS staff at the Mater hospital in Belfast, during a minute’s silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak.
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Shoppers observe a minute’s silence in Tescos in Shoreham
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Firefighters outside Godstone fire station
6/30 Salford Royal Hospital
7/30 Salford Royal Hospital
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Hospital workers take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE across Britain for all workers in care, the NHS and other vital public services after a nationwide minute’s silence at University College Hospital in London
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A school children’s poster hanging outside Glenfield Hospital during a minute’s silence
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A man holds a placard that reads “People’s health before profit” outside St Thomas hospital
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Staff members applaud outside the Royal Derby Hospital, following a minute’s silence
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Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, stand inside 10 Downing Street, London, to observe a minutes silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
13/30 University College Hospital, London
Hospital workers hold placards with the names of their colleagues who have died from coronavirus as they take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE
14/30
Staff at Waterloo Station in London, stand to observe a minute’s silence, to pay tribute to NHS and key workers who have died with coronavirus
15/30
Medical staff at the Louisa Jordan hospital stand during a UK wide minutes silence to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus in Glasgow
16/30 London
An NHS worker observes a minute’s silence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
17/30 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London
18/30 Belfast, Northern Ireland
NHS staff observe a minutes silence at Mater Infirmorum Hospital
19/30 Plymouth
NHS workers hold a minute’s silence outside the main entrance of Derriford Hospital
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NHS Frimley Park Hospital staff at the A&E department observe a minute’s silence
21/30 Mater Infirmorum Hospital
People applaud after a minutes silence in honour of key workers
22/30 Waterloo Station, London
23/30
Wreaths laid outside Sheffield town hall
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A group of trade unionists and supporters standing outside Sheffield town hall
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First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh to observe a minute’s silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
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Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence
27/30 London
Police officers observe a minutes silence at Guy’s Hospital
28/30
A woman standing outside Sheffield town hall
29/30 Royal Derby Hospital
30/30 Leicester,
NHS workers during a minute’s silence outside Glenfield Hospital
1/30
Staff react outside Salford Royal Hospital in Manchester during a minute’s silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
2/30
Staff inside Camberwell bus depot in London, during a minute’s silence
3/30
NHS staff at the Mater hospital in Belfast, during a minute’s silence to pay tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak.
4/30
Shoppers observe a minute’s silence in Tescos in Shoreham
5/30
Firefighters outside Godstone fire station
6/30 Salford Royal Hospital
7/30 Salford Royal Hospital
8/30
Hospital workers take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE across Britain for all workers in care, the NHS and other vital public services after a nationwide minute’s silence at University College Hospital in London
9/30
A school children’s poster hanging outside Glenfield Hospital during a minute’s silence
10/30
A man holds a placard that reads “People’s health before profit” outside St Thomas hospital
11/30
Staff members applaud outside the Royal Derby Hospital, following a minute’s silence
12/30
Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill, Prime minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, stand inside 10 Downing Street, London, to observe a minutes silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
13/30 University College Hospital, London
Hospital workers hold placards with the names of their colleagues who have died from coronavirus as they take part in a protest calling on the British government to provide PPE
14/30
Staff at Waterloo Station in London, stand to observe a minute’s silence, to pay tribute to NHS and key workers who have died with coronavirus
15/30
Medical staff at the Louisa Jordan hospital stand during a UK wide minutes silence to commemorate the key workers who have died with coronavirus in Glasgow
16/30 London
An NHS worker observes a minute’s silence at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
17/30 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London
18/30 Belfast, Northern Ireland
NHS staff observe a minutes silence at Mater Infirmorum Hospital
19/30 Plymouth
NHS workers hold a minute’s silence outside the main entrance of Derriford Hospital
20/30
NHS Frimley Park Hospital staff at the A&E department observe a minute’s silence
21/30 Mater Infirmorum Hospital
People applaud after a minutes silence in honour of key workers
22/30 Waterloo Station, London
23/30
Wreaths laid outside Sheffield town hall
24/30
A group of trade unionists and supporters standing outside Sheffield town hall
25/30
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon stands outside St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh to observe a minute’s silence in tribute to the NHS staff and key workers who have died during the coronavirus outbreak
26/30
Staff stand outside the Royal Derby Hospital, during a minutes silence
27/30 London
Police officers observe a minutes silence at Guy’s Hospital
28/30
A woman standing outside Sheffield town hall
29/30 Royal Derby Hospital
30/30 Leicester,
NHS workers during a minute’s silence outside Glenfield Hospital
The report added: The recent public focus on whether 100,000 tests will be performed on April 30 is a red herring.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is expected to appear at his first daily Downing Street press conference since recovering from coronavirus amid mounting pressure on ministers to reveal the path out of the lockdown.
However Downing Street has played down any hopes of easing restrictions this week, pointing to the three weekly review deadline on 7 May as a more likely time for clarity.