Coronavirus tests set to be rationed

Coronavirus tests in England are to be rationed as the government struggles to cope with the demand, it has been confirmed.

This news comes as cases continue to climb in Northern and North East Lincolnshire.

According to the latest figures from Public Health England, over 67 new infections have been recorded in Northern Lincolnshire within the past week.

There are now 826 cases in the area, an increase of 48 in 9 days.

An additional 19 cases have been confirmed in North East Lincolnshire in the past 9 days, bringing the total up to 267.

The last recorded hospital death within the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust was on Saturday 5 September.

Despite the Director of Test and Trace, Sarah-Jane Marshall, insisting that the system is working as it should, people in Lincolnshire have encountered ongoing difficulties in accessing appointments.

She has apologised for issues which have left people either unable to get tested, or being asked to travel up to hundreds of miles for an appointment.

The Department of Health has blamed a growth in demand from people who do not have symptoms.

As such, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has now announced that tests will now be reserved and prioritised for those within care homes, or with a clinical need.

Secretary of State Robert Buckland said that resolving delays is a number one priority.

Speaking to the BBC, he added that testing within schools is also of great importance due to the “knock-on effect to the working lives of parents and carers”.

A further 3,105 cases have been confirmed across the UK in the last 24 hours.

This brings the nation up to a total of 374,228 cases since the pandemic began.

The UK’s death toll has now reached 41,664.