THE Government is to significantly expand coronavirus testing to all care home residents and staff as it bids to meet its target of testing 100,000 people a day by the end of the month.

The announcement was made by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock during the daily briefing from Downing Street today (Tuesday, April 28).

Mr Hancock also said that testing would be available to anyone over the age of 65 with symptoms and their households.

The Health Secretary said that 21,678 people had died in UK hospitals from coronavirus, and that a further 4,343 had died in care homes since Easter.

He promised that from tomorrow, the daily figures will include data about the number of deaths recorded in care homes and in the community from the virus.

Mr Hancock said the Government would be using this data to 'inform the judgements we make as we work to make to keep people safe'.

He said the Government is 'on track' to meet its target of testing 100,000 people a day by the end of the month and highlighted the increase in the number of drive thru centres, mobile test units and home tests available. 

Testing will be expanded to all care home residents and staff, regardless of whether they have Covid-19 symptoms, and all those aged 65 and over with symptoms and their households, Mr Hancock said.

Elsewhere in the briefing, Mr Hancock praised the minute's silence held this morning to remember the 85 NHS and 19 social care staff who have lost their lives to the virus.

"These are nations fallen heroes and we will remember them," Mr Hancock said.

He also emphasised that the lockdown restrictions would not be lifted until the Government's five criteria were met; that there was sufficient capacity within the NHS to deal with cases, that there had been a sustained and consistent fall in the number of deaths, that the rate of infection was decreasing to managable levels, that the amount of PPE and testing available is able to cope with demand, and that the Government is confident any adjustments to the lockdown measures will not risk a second peak of the virus.