'Mass testing could allow hugs at Christmas’

The Government has committed to a £500 million support package for 20-minute tests and efforts to explore the benefits of repeat testing. The money will go towards expanding trials of the speedy no-swab saliva test in Southampton and elsewhere in Hampshire, and launching a repeat testing trial in Salford, Greater Manchester. Health secretary Matt Hancock told Nick Robinson: “I hope that if this mass testing regime comes off, if the technologies we have been working so hard on work, or if we have a vaccine between now and then, which we should not rule out, then we can have a happy and loving Christmas that people yearn for.” Credit: AFP Getty Images