What you need to know
- The UK government may start selling coronavirus testing kits on Amazon within days.
- That's according to Professor Sharon Peacock, director of the National Infection Service at Public Health England.
- It could tell users whether they'd had the disease, allowing them to return to work.
The UK government may start selling coronavirus testing kits on Amazon "within days".
According to Sky News (opens in new tab):
Millions of new coronavirus testing kits could be ready to order on Amazon in days, rather than weeks or months, according to Public Health England.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously spoken of a simple test for coronavirus as a potential "total game-changer" in the battle against COVID-19.Professor Sharon Peacock, director of the National Infection Service at Public Health England, revealed on Wednesday that millions of such a test have been ordered and could be used "in the near future".
Rather than testing for current infection, the tests would check to see whether an individual had COVID-19 antibodies, which would indicate if someone had previously had the disease. Evidence shows that you cannot catch the coronavirus twice in quick succession, and Boris Johnson has repeatedly stated in his press conferences that such a test would allow those who have been infected and fought off the illness could return to work, providing a massive boost for the economy.
The report notes that the tests look "similar to pregnancy tets", and may be available from Amazon, or in high street stores such as Boots. Professor Peacock stated:
"Several million tests have been purchased for use. These are brand new products. We have to be clear they work as they are claimed to do.Once they have been tested this week and the bulk of tests arrive, they will be distributed into the community."
Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design.
Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple.
