Millions of people in England can no longer get free coronavirus tests and have to buy them from the High Street or online. Scotland and Wales are also phasing them out at a slightly slower pace. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the country needs to 'learn to live with Covid'
Mr Javid said it was right to “focus resources” on those people who still most needed testing, including some hospital patients and those at a high risk of severe Covid. Most people will now need to shop on the high street for paid-for tests if they want them and Manchester Evening News has done a price comparison which you can see below.
Ministers in England argue that even though infection levels have been rising, vaccines and antivirals are working to protect the vast majority of people. The most recent data shows there were 15,632 people in hospital in England with Covid-19 as of Wednesday, up 18 per cent week on week and the highest since January 19.
From today (Friday, April 1), most people in England will need to pay for a lateral flow test to check if they have contracted Covid-19 or not with pharmacies across the region offering a wide range of prices. Free tests end in Scotland on April 18. In Wales they will only remain free for people with symptoms until June. Most major UK pharmacies are offering lateral flow tests both online and in-store and can be grabbed for as low as £1.75.
It comes as a YouGov poll found 45 per cent of people think the Covid-19 situation in the UK is getting worse, up from 11 per cent in February, and 42 per cent say they are still wearing a face mask – the lowest level since July 2020 and down from 53 per cent in February.
A quarter (26 per cent) last took a lateral flow test more than a month ago, while one in eight (13 per cent) has never taken one.
Lloyds
LloydsPharmacy is providing single lateral flow tests for £1.89 while a pack of five can be bought for £9.29 in-store and online. PCR tests are also available with at-home testing services available at a starting price of £12.99.
Boots
Boots Pharmacy is offering Flowflex Antigen Rapid Test lateral flow test kits in more than 400 locations and on its online store. Customers can buy a single test for £2 or grab a pack of five for £9.80.
Tesco
Tesco Pharmacy offers lateral flow tests in 1,500 locations. Prices will start at £2 for Everything Genetic self-testing rapid tests while those living in London will be able to purchase tests online - this will rollout to other parts of the UK from May.
Superdrug
Superdrug said it has "widespread availability" for lateral flow tests both in-store and online. They are currently offering single tests for £1.99 from Flowflex while a pack of five will cost £9.79.
Morrisons
Lateral flow tests will be available from Morrisons Pharmacy for £1.75 per single test.
