BORIS Johnson has said all test results will be returned within 24 hours by the end of June.
The PM announced the move at PMQs today after being criticised for not getting a working test and trace system up by his own June 1 deadline.
Mr Johnson said today: “We already do have 90 per cent of tests turned around within 48 hours of the tests conducted at around 199 testing centres they’re all done within 24 hours.
“I can undertake to him now to get all tests turned around in 24 hours by the end of June.”
The PM tried to ward off criticism from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who claimed he had already failed to meet his earlier promise to introduce a “world beating” contact tracing system by June 1.
The system was brought in late last week and many of the contact tracers said it was riddled with problems.
The PM said: “Thousands of people are being tested every day, every person who tests positive in this country in this track and trace system is contacted.
“Then thousands of their contacts are themselves contacted, and I can tell the House at the moment as a result of our test and trace system which was up and running on June 1.
“As a result of their efforts thousands of people are now following the guidance and self isolating to stop the spread of the disease.”
Sir Keir said: “The Prime Minister promised that we would have a track and trace system that will be world beating, and yes, it will be in place by June 1, but it isn’t.
“A critical element the ability of local authorities to respond to local spikes, is missing, as one council leader put it to us, we’re weeks away from having this fully up and running.
“Dido Harding, the Prime Minister’s own chair of the track and trace, has said this system will not be ready until the end of June.”
Contact tracing is a crucial part of unleashing the nation from lockdown as it will allow any new cases to be isolated from the population and prevent the disease running rife throughout the UK.
Ministers have warned if local lockdowns are necessary because of new outbreaks those will be brought in – but they don’t want to have to roll out further national measures.
