Coronavirus UK: Government slammed for testing efforts

The government faced a mauling this afternoon after it failed to stop senior figures in the UK's fight against coronavirus from catching the deadly disease as Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock both tested positive. In another frantic day of developments in the battle against coronavirus: US President Donald Trump wished Mr Johnson a 'speedy recovery' as the two leaders spoke on the phone; Mr Gove revealed a new alliance between businesses, research institutes and universities will boost testing capacity so NHS workers will know if they have coronavirus with testing starting next week; NHS chief executive Simon Stevens said there are now 33,000 beds available nationwide for coronavirus patients; He also revealed two new Nightingale hospitals will be set up in Birmingham and Manchester in addition to the one in London; A council is facing a furious backlash after targeting members of the public with drones, as lawyers warned that police are 'unlawfully' trying to restrict people travelling to isolated spots to exercise and walk their dogs; There are demands for the government to go further to help millions of self-employed after Mr Sunak admitted a bailout for income support will not be up and running until June; Buckingham Palace has said the Queen remains in 'good health' and has not seen the PM since March 11; UK supermarkets said they will use a government database of 1.5 million vulnerable shoppers to help prioritise delivery slots. A Downing Street spokesman said: 'After experiencing mild symptoms yesterday, the Prime Minister was tested for coronavirus on the personal advice of England's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty. Boris Johnson was outside No10 last night applauding NHS workers who are combating the virus, in a national show of appreciation - but kept his distance from Chancellor Rishi Sunak Mr Johnson was in the Commons for PMQs on Wednesday, raising fears other politicians might have been infected The PM's video statement in full 'Hi folks I want to bring you up to speed on something that is happening today which is that I have developed mild symptoms of coronavirus, that is to say a temperature and a persistent cough, and on the advice of the chief medical officer I have taken a test. Here is a pictorial guide to what Mr Johnson has been doing this month: Boris Johnson joins in with a national applause for the NHS outside Downing Street last night Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak outside Downing Street for the applause last night Boris Johnson in the study of 10 Downing Street on a video call to other G20 leaders yesterday Boris Johnson on the phone in his office in Downing Street to Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday Boris Johnson speaks during his first remote news conference on coronavirus on Wednesday Boris Johnson returns to 10 Downing Street from Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday Boris Johnson speaks at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday Boris Johnson leaves Downing Street for Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday morning Boris Johnson chairs a weekly Cabinet meeting remotely from the Cabinet Rroom on Tuesday Boris Johnson addresses the nation from Downing Street and imposes a lockdown on Monday Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing at Downing Street on coronavirus on Sunday Boris Johnson speaks during a media briefing at Downing Street on coronavirus on Sunday, with Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Jenny Harries Prime Minister Boris Johnson's daily coronavirus update in the Cabinet Room on Saturday Boris Johnson with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Jenny Harries on March 20 Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance watch as Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks at Downing Street on March 19 Boris Johnson speaks at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on March 18 Boris Johnson with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and chief scientific officer Patrick Vallance at Downing Street on March 17 Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds speak with heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day on March 9 Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds arriving at Westminster Abbey for the service on March 9 Boris Johnson surveys flood defences in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley on March 8 Boris Johnson visits the Mologic Laboratory in the Bedford Technology Park on March 6 Boris Johnson speaks at Downing Street on March 5, in an event attended by Health Minister Nadine Dorries, who later tested positive for the virus, as well as Trade Secretary Liz Truss and athlete Kelly Holmes