BREAKING: Boris Johnson has committed to developing a programme of rapid mass testing, which he said could allow theatre audiences to return without social distancing this year. The scheme will be piloted at indoor and outdoor venues in Salford next month.

He said it could be used “even for some of the most difficult sectors like theatre”, whose venues have not been able to open fully since March.

According to Johnson they may now be able to do so in time for Christmas, with a UK-wide take-up of the scheme in place by spring 2021.

Plans include a “simple, quick and scaleable” test that could offer a user results in as little as 20 minutes, which, if negative, would give them a “passport to mingle with everybody else who is similarly not infectious in a way that is currently impossible”, Johnson said. (Source: The Stage)