with virologists. What about Spain, South Korea, California, who have much higher capacities - are they also reliant on Roche? The truth is the govt was sleeping on the wheel when all this happened, and did absolutely nothing to increase capacity. 2/N

Steve saying that the transmission has reduced to an R less than 1 (one person infects less than one person) - he says there is evidence. Most scientists would be pretty skeptical of this claim whilst we're seeing an exponential rise in confirmed cases. 3/N

This is frankly ridiculous- I'd really like to see the evidence that is quoted here. On asking where the evidence is, he says they need to wait and see. Then why say there is scientific evidence to support this? 4/N

@MattHancock keeps saying 'no test is better than a bad test'. While this is true, there are highly accurate validated tests that have been available since Jan. Why are we re-inventing the wheel? The world has tests with high levels of accuracy with published protocols. 5/N

@MattHancock says that the no. of critical care beds is above capacity. Then why are elderly people in care homes being asked to sign blanket DNAR orders. Why are we receiving reports that elderly people are dying because they don't meet 'criteria' for receiving ICU care 6/N

And if they've been planning for oxygen shortages, why are hospitals almost running out of this, and planning not to ventilate all patients, and prioritise based on criteria, if this is not a problem? Hospitals are making clear that they cannot ventilate all patients. 7/N

Once again, @MattHancock repeats the line they have sufficient PPE but have problems with distributing. Well, doctors have died due to lack of PPE, and are going into work, and being put at risk every day. Other countries have managed this - no shortages in Germany, S. Korea. 8/N

Stephen saying that these are challenges all countries are facing. Yes that's true, but other countries have scaled up, and managed resources well, protecting healthcare staff, whilst testing and contact tracing. We've done none of that, and the govt is responsible. 9/N

@MattHancock
being asked by Sky News about how antibody test will help ease the lockdown as Prof Newton confirms what many of us have suspected - that we don't know whether antibodies are protective at all. Abysmal response by @MattHancock
10/N

@MattHancock forced to admit that carrying out antigen tests are more urgent, and clinically relevant than developing antibody tests. Then why haven't they focused on developing the antigen tests rather than hammering on about 'ramping up' antibody tests! 11/N

Spain currrently doing 20,000 tests a day, Germany 70,000 a day, S. Korea 20,000/day, California alone - 28,000/day. What have we been doing? 12/N

@MattHancock provides absolutely no clear timeline on when testing will be available for all NHS workers, or for community testing.

What is the point of these briefings?

Why are we once again talking about mass testing with the antibody test, when we know that presence of antibodies doesn't necessarily mean people won't get re-infected. @MattHancock finally admits that this may not be the silver bullet that's been touted, as there isn't evidence.

Stephen Powis actually saying with a straight face that their strategy has been to stay ahead of the epidemic & they've done this. NHS staff have died due to lack of PPE, elderly people are dying due to lack of ICU beds, there are oxygen shortages, and lack of testing. Really?

How useful is the Nightingale hospital going to be without staff, ventilator capacity, and oxygen? Is this going to be yet another useless initiative that proves to be less than everything its been shored up to be by the govt?

All while we're having oxygen and ICU bed shortages at existing hospitals, and staff continue to work without PPE.

@MattHancock ends with 'we took the right measures at the very right time, based on the science'. I'm an epidemiologist working in this area, and this is absolutely and categorically false. I hope these guys are prosecuted for criminal negligence one all this is over.