Boris Johnson says some measures to ease lockdown could be implemented on Monday

Boris Johnson set a new 200,000 daily coronavirus testing target as he said he ‘bitterly’ regrets the Covid-19 crisis in care homes and expressed frustration about problems supplying personal protective equipment (PPE).
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At his first Prime Minister's Questions since his recovery from coronavirus and the birth of his son Wilfred, Mr Johnson said his ‘ambition’ was for the new testing goal to be met by the end of the month.

His Commons appearance came ahead of a speech on Sunday where he is expected to set out plans for easing the lockdown as ministers hinted that cafes may be able to reopen in the summer months if they can provide outdoor facilities.

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The Prime Minister suggested some of the measures he announces on Sunday could be implemented as soon as the next day.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested that lockdown measures could be eased as soon as Monday. Photo: PA.Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested that lockdown measures could be eased as soon as Monday. Photo: PA.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suggested that lockdown measures could be eased as soon as Monday. Photo: PA.

‘We have to be sure the data is going to support our ability to do this,’ he said.

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‘That data is coming in continuously over the next few days. We want if we possibly can to get going with some of these measures on Monday.’

Mr Johnson faced Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in the Commons for the first time and was challenged by accusations that the Government had been slow to respond to the outbreak, leaving the UK with the highest death toll in Europe at nearly 33,000 according to new figures.

Southsea beach at the start of the coronavirus lockdown with police patrolling the promenade. Picture: Habibur RahmanSouthsea beach at the start of the coronavirus lockdown with police patrolling the promenade. Picture: Habibur Rahman
Southsea beach at the start of the coronavirus lockdown with police patrolling the promenade. Picture: Habibur Rahman
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The Government met its 100,000 a day testing target by the end of April but has failed to maintain that level in early May.

Mr Johnson said ‘the ambition clearly is to get up to 200,000 a day by the end of this month and then to go even higher’.

A ‘fantastic testing regime’ will be critical to the UK's long-term economic recovery, he said.

The route out of lockdown will rely on a test, track and trace programme to quickly identify new cases of coronavirus and prevent the further spread of the infection.

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