Testing for coronavirus at Queen Alexandra Hospital now up to nearly 500 a day

Portsmouth Pathology’s microbiology team are doing their bit towards the national effort of ramping up testing to 100,000 a day.

More staff are now trained while new ways of working have boosted testing having only started at 48 tests a day.

Portsmouth Pathology, posting on its official Twitter account, said: ‘Very proud of our microbiology team and their contribution to delivering the target of 100,000 tests per day.

‘Started with 48 tests a day now on course to deliver 500. New ways of working underway. Staff from other areas of (pathology) now trained. All done with goodwill and humour.’

The news comes after health secretary Matt Hancock yesterday announced that the government had hit its 100,000 tests a day target.

Portsmouth is one of the few places across the UK with a testing facility for key workers, which is operating from the former lorry park site in Tipnor.

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