Latest News | 8 February 2021
Prime Minister hails ‘home of innovation’ during visit to Derby
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hailed Derby as the “home of innovation” during a visit to the city.
Mr Johnson was in Derby yesterday to visit SureScreen Diagnostics after the company landed a contract with the Government to supply 20 million rapid Covid-19 testing kits.
The Prime Minister also took time out to visit the vaccination centre set up at Derby Arena, where he spoke to staff and patients.
Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, he said: “Derby is an amazing place, it is the home of innovation.
“You look at the things that go on in just 15 minutes from here, you’ve got Bombardier, you’ve got Rolls-Royce, all sorts of things happening in Derby.”
Speaking about its latest contract with the Government, David Campbell, director at SureScreen, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Department of Health and Social Care on this project and that our tests have been recognised by the Government and its scientists.
“We look forward to doing all we can to help the UK going forward in 2021.”
SureScreen has said it will create another 200 jobs in Derby as a result of the deal.
The lateral flow antigen tests will be used to support the Government’s drive to deliver rapid testing to those without symptoms in order to break chains of transmission.
The tests devised by the city-based firm, which can return results in 30 minutes, are the first British-made lateral flow tests validated for asymptomatic testing.
The latest contract comes hot on the heels of a deal secured last month by SureScreen for two million of the same rapid antigen tests to support the Government’s Community Testing Programme.
The new order will be used to test NHS and care home staff, as well as in targeted settings including schools, universities and to allow key workers to continue their vital work during lockdown.
With up to a third of individuals with Covid-19 not displaying symptoms, broadening asymptomatic testing is essential in finding positive cases who may unknowingly pass on the virus in order to break chains of transmission.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Rapid lateral flow tests strengthen our national response to the virus significantly, helping us to identify the around one in three people who are asymptomatic and break chains of transmission in our workplaces and communities.
“It is excellent to be working with a UK firm to deliver millions more of these rapid tests.
“I am committed to bolstering onshore UK manufacturing capabilities. The brilliant work done by SureScreen, and the contribution it will make to our rapid testing programme, is another example of the home-grown talent, ingenuity and industry that exists right here in the UK.”
Lateral flow antigen tests work by taking a sample from the nose or back of the throat and testing that sample for the presence of antigens, the signature proteins of the virus.
They show results visually, in the same way as many pregnancy tests.
Antigen testing can tell someone whether they currently have the virus that causes Covid-19, and produce results in under 30 minutes.
Mr Campbell said: “We believe our rapid antigen tests can really help in screening people both in the community and in clinical settings.
“Routine testing is crucial to help business, as well as hospitals and GPs.”
