Last month, the government announced their “Living With Covid” plan, which will see an end to the remaining restrictions in the country.
Among this plan was the dropping of self-isolation after a positive test from February 24, and the ending of mass free testing across the country.
From this Friday (April 1), free tests will only be provided for the most vulnerable, according to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Care home residents, hospital patients, other groups of vulnerable people, as well as NHS staff will be allowed to take tests for no charge if they have symptoms of Covid.
While prices of tests for those needing to buy from April 1 are not set, the decisions will lie with private companies that provide them. It was initially reported that most individual lateral flow tests (LFT) would cost between £2 and £5 for an individual lateral flow test (LFT), or £20 for a box of seven. Some companies, such as Medisave, have started their prices slightly lower at 99p, while others are charging over these prices for a test.
Health leaders have expressed concerns over the ending of mass LFT and PCR provisions meaning will mean that, for many, testing for Covid will become a “luxury good”.
Another booster jab has also be offered to millions, with all over-75s and immunosuppressed people beginning to be offered a fourth jab over the spring months.