CORONAVIRUS cases in the UK have hit 177,454 after 6,201 more Brits tested positive in just 24 hours.
The death toll continues to rise as 27,510 people have now died in the UK from the killer bug.
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Almost 800,000 people have been tested for coronavirus in the country since the fatal outbreak began.
Now people in key worker roles, their families and those in care homes can get tested if they have symptoms.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock set a huge goal of hitting 100,000 tests a day by the end of April, and looked on course to fall short.
But in recent days testing has ramped up, with DIY home tests being sent out and more drive-thru sites set up.
The Health Secretary confirmed today that the UK had reached its testing goal of 100,000 coronavirus tests per day by the end of April.
A huge increase on the last day of April meant an extra 40,000 tests were done, bringing the total number of those tested yesterday to 122,347.
Mr Hancock said: "I knew it was an audacious goal, but we needed an audacious goal because testing is so important."
"I can announce we have met our goal."
However, critics pointed out that the testing figure included thousands of home test kits that had been sent out in the post but had not yet all taken place.
Home testing kits have been flying this week, with ministers releasing nearly 15,000 a day direct to doorsteps. Testing is seen as being the first stage of a plan to end the lockdown.
More testing will be set up, followed by an extensive track and trace programme to target anyone who may have been in contact with the killer bug.
Boris Johnson tweeted this morning an appeal for Brits to stay on track and work together to beat the bug.
He said: "I can confirm that we are past the peak of this disease.
"We are past the peak and we are on the downward slope.
"And we have so many reasons to be hopeful for the long term.
"But we can only defeat coronavirus by our collective discipline and working together."
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