The government is likely to meet or “come close” to its target of 100,000 daily UK coronavirus tests, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Health Secretary Matt Hancock promised the government would achieve the aim by the end of April – which was Thursday – and those figures are expected later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just over 81,000 tests across the UK took place on Wednesday but ministers said there was capacity for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It came as the PM said the UK was now “past the peak” of the outbreak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Jenrick told BBC Breakfast the target was “just a stepping stone” and that the foundations were in place for a strong national testing network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The number of people who had died after testing positive for Covid-19 in UK hospitals and the wider community is now 26,771, a rise of 674 on the day before, the latest figures show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A further 352 deaths were reported in England on Thursday, along with 40 more in Scotland, 18 more in Northern Ireland and 17 more in Wales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The latest UK-wide figures – which use a different timeframe to those of individual nations – will be published later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n