Coronavirus home testing kits will be available to UK public 'within days' says health expert

Professor Sharon Peacock, director of the National Infection Service, Public Health England (PHE), said the testing kits are a potential game changer in the battle against Coronavirus.

Science and Technology Committee

"Once we are assured that they do work, they will be rolled out into the community," said Professor Peacock.

"Testing the test is a small matter, and I anticipate that it will be done by the end of this week.

"In the near future people will be able to order a test that they can test themselves, or go to Boots, or somewhere similar to have their finger prick test done."

Asked whether this meant it would be available in a number of days, rather than weeks or months, Professor Peacock said "absolutely".

The kits have the potential to result in hundreds of thousands of tests being carried out each day across the UK.

Seven people have died in Northern Ireland after testing positive for COVID-19.