The Leader

Test and trace troubles: UK system must “massively speed up” to be effective

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Episode notes

The former health secretary Jeremy Hunt has written in the Evening Standard warning the UK needs to “massively speed up” its coronavirus testing system. He says it needs to be a 24 hour turnaround time, it’s currently of median of 48, and he’s been told a care home in his constituency had to wait a week for results for some of its residents. It comes as the country prepares to ease out of lockdown with new rules allowing up to 6 people to meet in open spaces. Our comment editor Susannah Butter asks if the UK's ready to leave the house, and where is the world-class testing Boris Johnson promised us?

The National Trust is to begin re-opening some of its parks and gardens, although you won't be able to go into any of its stately homes just yet. The Trust had to furlough 80 percent of its staff and reportedly faces a £200 million deficit because of the pandemic. Its spokesman Simon Toomer joins the podcast to tell us what's involved in opening up the spaces, and what people will and won't be able to do.

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