How the UK can get its catastrophic coronavirus testing under control

By Clare Wilson

THIS month, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced an ambition to increase the country’s capacity for coronavirus testing to several million tests a day.

Billed as Operation Moonshot, the idea was received with widespread incredulity. The UK is currently failing to meet demand for coronavirus testing, with roughly half a million daily requests outstripping supply by up to fourfold.

Yet there are also reports of new technologies in development that could make testing faster and cheaper. If the UK …