It is clear that there are still people in Sittingbourne and Sheppey who are struggling to obtain a Covid-19 test. This is a problem I have raised on a number of occasions with health ministers, including most recently on Tuesday evening.

 

However, it would be wrong to criticise the Government without pointing out that the independent Worldometers website (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/) shows that, as of today, the UK has tested 301,948 people per 1 million population, which is the second highest testing regime in the world (the highest being Israel, which has tested 318,753 people per 1 million population).

 

Indeed, when compared with other European countries, the UK is doing remarkably well. For instance France is 153,128; Spain is 230,050; Italy 167,868; and even much vaunted Germany is much lower at 173,626 per 1 million population!

 

I appreciate those statistics do not help those people with Covid-19 symptoms who are unable to get tests, and I will continue to press ministers to ensure more tests are available. However, the statistics do put the Government’s overall testing performance into perspective.

 

Meanwhile, we can all do our bit to help our NHS testing regime by only applying for a test if we have coronavirus symptoms, or have been asked to get tested.

 

You should NOT use the service simply to get tested in order to travel to another country, or for any other reason. If you need such a test you can pay for it privately. Those tests can obtained at some pharmacies, such as Lloyds Pharmacy: https://onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy.com/uk/coronavirus-covid-19-testing/covid-19-swab-test-kit

 

More information about testing can be found on the NHS website:- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/