Free lateral flow tests are set to be scrapped for everyone except NHS workers, care home staff and vulnerable patients from Friday in England, the Government announced tonight.
People will be told there is no need to take a test even if they are symptomatic, though they will be advised to isolate until they feel better.
Rapid Covid tests are being massively scaled back on April 1 as part of the final phase of the Government’s ‘living with Covid’ strategy.
Although COVID-19 infections and hospitalisations have risen in recent weeks, health bosses say over 55% of those in hospital that have tested positive are not there with COVID-19 as their primary diagnosis.
The Government said the success of the vaccination programme and access to antivirals has given the population much stronger protection against COVID-19 than at any other point in the pandemic.
They said this has enabled the country to begin to manage the virus like other respiratory infections.
From Friday (April 1), updated guidance will advise people with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and a high temperature or who feel unwell, to try stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.
Until April 1 individuals should continue to follow the current guidance.
From Friday, anyone with a positive COVID-19 test result will be advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days, which is when they are most infectious.
Advice will be provided for individuals who need to leave their home when they have symptoms or have tested positive, including avoiding close contact with people with a weakened immune system, wearing a face-covering and avoiding crowded places.
Under the new rules free testing will still be provided for:
- Patients in hospital, where a PCR test is required for their care
- People who are eligible for community Covid drug treatments because they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill if they become infected. People in this group will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests to keep at home for use if they have symptoms, as well as being told how to reorder tests
- Care home residents
- People working in some high-risk settings, including care homes and prisons. These staff will be able to test regularly, without symptoms
People will also be tested before being discharged from hospital into care homes, hospices and refuges.
But most visitors to adult social care settings, and visitors to the NHS, prisons or places of detention will not be required to take a test.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid said: “Thanks to our plan to tackle Covid we are leading the way in learning to live with the virus. We have made enormous progress but will keep the ability to respond to future threats including potential variants.
“Vaccines remain our best defence and we are now offering spring boosters to the elderly, care home residents and the most vulnerable – please come forward to protect yourself, your family, and your community.”
