THE number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Herefordshire has passed 300 as a mobile testing unit in the county has the capacity to carry out 150 tests per day.
The Government extended the number of people in the UK eligible for a test earlier this week to include those with symptoms and are either over-65 or who have leave the house to work, as well as members of their households, as they tried to reach their target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of April.
This number was achieved when 122,347 tests were performed in the 24 hours up to 9am today (Friday).
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Across the UK, 177,454 people had tested positive for coronavirus as of 5.49pm today (Friday), up from 171,253 at the same point on Wednesday, Department of Health and Social Care figures show.
Public Health England figures show 302 people had been confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19 by 9am on Friday morning (May 1) in Herefordshire, up from 298 the same time on Thursday.
It comes as documents from Herefordshire Council reveal the testing station set up by the Army has a capacity for 150 tests per day.
READ MORE: Drive-through coronavirus testing centre set up in Hereford
"We are the first area in West Mercia to arrange for the military to provide a local testing offer," the agenda for yesterday's cabinet meeting said.
"On Monday, April 27, 98 key workers and household members were tested. This increased to 142 people on Tuesday, April 28.
"There are 150 slots available per day. Health and social care staff are being prioritised for testing."
The centre at Merton Meadow car park in Hereford is one of several which have currently been set up by the armed forces in the West Midlands, including Redditch, Walsall and at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.
On Wednesday, testing was stopped earlier than planned after the centre ran out of testing kits.
READ MORE: Hereford coronavirus testing station closes for the day after running out of tests
People were told not to travel to the centre, even if they had a test booked.
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