By Free lateral flow tests ‘under review’
Free lateral flow tests are being kept under review, the government has confirmed.
The update comes after reports that the free provision is set to end as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to ease the nation out of remaining coronavirus restrictions.
No.10 will publish papers detailing the UK’s updated ‘living with with COVID strategy’ next week.
It is expected that the document will contain plans to phase out free COVID testing and end the tracing system.
Free PCR testing could also be restricted to use by those considered clinically vulnerable.
Despite restrictions around mask wearing and lateral flow tests being lifted for many venues, most healthcare settings have confirmed plans to continue demanding visitors demonstrate use of both.
The Department of Health have stated that although the provision is ‘under review’, no final decisions have been made.
Responding to the reports, a spokesperson for the department said: “We’ve previously set out that we’ll keep the provision of free testing under review as the government’s response to COVID-19 changes.
“No decisions have been made on the provision of free testing.”
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