UK announces expansion of COVID-19 national testing study

The UK government said it would expand its COVID-19 national testing study, with an aim of reaching 400,000 people to provide weekly data on the spread of the infection and better locate future local outbreaks, the Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement on Wednesday.

The infection survey would initially test 150,000 people in England per fortnight by October, up from 28,000 people now, aiming to eventually reach 400,000 across the United Kingdom.

The testing survey, undertaken by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), would also be extended to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, making it the country's largest study tracking COVID-19 in the general population, according to the statement.

"This will allow us to further narrow down the areas potentially affected by local outbreaks and continue our fight to curb the spread ahead of winter," said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.