The UK government blusters its way through excuses for its poor response to coronavirus. It must be held accountable.
![Non apologies opinion priti patel/James Melville [Will Oliver/EPA-EFE]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45090c8d85dd4b0a84ede0714ca36025_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
The UK government blusters its way through excuses for its poor response to coronavirus. It must be held accountable.
![Non apologies opinion priti patel/James Melville [Will Oliver/EPA-EFE]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/45090c8d85dd4b0a84ede0714ca36025_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
While Germany has taken in Italian patients for treatment, the UK has failed to participate in an EU ventilator scheme.
![Patients from Bergamo arrive in Hamburg [Fabian Bimmer/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/f9aff61c73a143c88039170f6713eeb5_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
The evidence is clear: Mass testing for the virus is the key to its eradication – and to saving lives.
![Italy Lockdown Vo'' Euganeo [Michele Galvan/EPA-EFE]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/72079ea819ed4fe28d36bfd3cdf94a58_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
The UK government is shooting itself in the foot during the coronavirus crisis with its migrant workers’ ‘nurse tax’.

The UK has fewer ICU beds per capita than Italy. Austerity measures have led to a catastrophe waiting to happen.
