Innova became for a period of at least four critical months the only company authorised to supply rapid Covid tests in the UK, despite scores of others developing similar kits. Kimberley Thonger, Innova’s UK representative, who had previously worked in marketing for a series of shoe companies including Dr Martens, emailed Cummings in Downing Street in July 2020. In September 2020, Innova was awarded the first UK government contract, although its test was still not evaluated. The UK government is said to have ordered 1.8bn tests from Innova altogether, paying the company approximately £4.3bn. Kasprzak also claims Huang was trying to secure a knighthood and working on having a film made about himself, titled Overnight Billionaire.

Source: The Guardian June 17, 2024 12:58 UTC