By Will free lateral flow tests be scrapped in the coming weeks?
With all Covid restrictions coming to an end within the month, people are wondering what will happen to free lateral flow tests in the future.
At this moment in time, the Government has announced that the free tests will continue to be provided after all remaining Covid restrictions are scrapped.
However, there were previous concerns about how long the free tests would continue due to the cost.
In January, a government spokesperson said: “As you’ll know in our autumn and winter plan which we published last year, we were clear that at a later stage that… as our response to the virus further evolves, universal free provision of things like lateral flow tests will end.”
It now appears that, with Covid restrictions coming to an end entirely soon, the free tests remain essential.
A date for when people will be charged for the tests has not yet been announced, but they could cost up to £30 for a pack of seven when they do.
Currently, people in the UK are being encouraged to take two lateral flow tests a week or to take one before socialising.
Individuals who test positive can end their isolation period after five days if they provide negative lateral flow tests on days five and six.
The Prime Minister has also expressed his wishes to bring forward the date for when these final restrictions will end by a whole month.
If talks are successful, they will come to an end by Thursday 24 February, in two weeks’ time.
This means that people will not have to isolate at all, even if they test positive for Covid.
However, it will still be advised that people do not go to work if they have the infectious disease.
Plans for mandatory Covid vaccines for NHS staff have also come to a halt as data reveals that Covid symptoms are lessening with Omicron taking over Delta as the dominant variant.
The need for a mandatory jab is now being questioned as many believe it is no longer a necessary measure.
