The British Army are to become a key part of the UK's response to Covid-19, Boris Johnson revealed during Saturday's briefing and announcement of a new England-wide lockdown.
Seeking to offer some hope amidst the chaos, Johnson said that millions of Covid-19 tests that could make a diagnosis in 15 minutes were soon to be available - and that the army would help to ensure delivery of these.
"The Army has been brought in to work on the logistics and the programme will begin in a matter of days," the PM said during the press conference, during which he added that the scope of the new tests was huge, able to be used on 'whole towns and even whole cities'.
Their involvement in the project has already begun, too, with news last Monday that they had helped administer trials of the new tests at secondary schools in Lewisham, Poole and Salisbury.
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90 medics from the forces helped Public Health England (PHE) in testing pupils and staff not displaying symptoms, in order to understand the efficiency of mass use of the technology.
Sergeant Louise Arthur from Colchester-based 16 Medical Regiment was among those involved in the trial at Lewisham and said: "We were told on Tuesday lunchtime that we were supporting this work the next day, so we had to quickly get ourselves organised."
She added: "On Wednesday morning the PHE staff walked and talked us through how to use the equipment and then we've just got on with it and been working together to test as many children and staff as we can."
The test uses a chemical test strip that a swab taken from the back of the throat is smeared onto. It will then, in a short period of time, be able to give back a positive or negative test for Covid-19, and the hope is that these rapid results will be able to be used in public spaces such as airports and theatres.
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Sergeant Arthur said that the the test was a quick and simple process, taking less than two minutes.
"As medics, it's been interesting for us to be involved in developing a bit of cutting-edge science that, if it passes all the trials, will enable us to live alongside Covid-19 better and help us take a step towards normality" they added.
Amidst this cautious positivity however, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove told Sky News on Sunday morning that the newly announced lockdown England could go on beyond the officially announced December 2 end date.
Gove said: "We are going to review it on December 2, but we are always driven by what the data shows" before admitting "yes" when pushed by Sky News presenter Sophy Ridge on whether it could be extended.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: UK News, Coronavirus