Covid scientists warn that scrapping free tests will open the nation to a wave of dangerous new variants.
But they rule out two booster jabs in one year.
Boris Johnson will unveil a living with Covid plan on Monday ending mandatory isolation this week. He is also tipped to announce the date free lateral flow tests will stop.
But immunologist Professor Danny Altmann of Imperial College London said: “We will be flying blind.
“Data collection is the only trick up our sleeve to know about new variants coming round the corner.”
The Omicron virus has already mutated into a new version - BA.2 - which is now dominant in Northern Ireland and responsible for a fifth of cases in England and Scotland.
Dr Zubaida Haque of Independent Sage said: “This will have a huge impact. The better off will know they have Covid.
“But those on low pay will not be able to protect themselves.”
Hannah Brady of the Covid Bereaved Families for Justice added: “It will create a two tier system.
“People who have to choose between heating and eating will have to decide whether to pay for a Covid test.”
A box of 20 on the open market will cost around £55.
GP Dr Helen Salisbury of Oxford University said: “People can’t feel safe if they don’t have access to tests. We’d like to see the science behind this decision.”
But Independent Sage poured cold water on the prospect of a second booster jab.
Virologist Dr Steve Griffin of Leeds University said: “Logistically it’s going to be difficult to do more than one a year.”
Latest research by America’s Centre for Disease Control shows booster protection from hospitalisation wanes from 91% to 78% after four months.
But the US still has no plans to give a second booster. Israel began offering fourth jabs to health workers in December and Sweden recommends them for the over 80s.
