Read Aloud the Text Content

This audio was created by Woord's Text to Speech service by content creators from all around the world.

Text Content or SSML code:

I think it was right to set an ambitious target. "Sometimes even if you don't hit the target on the due date, the direction of travel is the most important thing." The latest available figures, for Tuesday, show that capacity reached 73,400 coronavirus tests, with 52,429 of those tests being used. :: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Downing Street said earlier this week that it would not initially be clear if the testing target has been met. The prime minister's spokesman said: "It's going to take a little while longer for that to be clear." He said it will be "difficult" to know on Friday, adding: "For example, home testing kits can take up to 72 hours to get the results for and therefore show up in the numbers." NHS Providers, which represents hospitals and NHS trusts in England, has said the target is a "red herring" which distracts from shortcomings in the long-term COVID-19 strategy.