From today, April 1, most people in England will no longer be able to get Covid tests for free.
It comes after restrictions were axed on February 24, meaning people are no longer legally required to self isolate even if they test positive for the virus.
Yet experts are warning that people must remain vigilant since estimates suggest one in 16 people in the UK currently have the virus.
The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance says a drop in taking precautionary measures around Covid could drive infection rates up further.
From today most people in the UK will have to pay for Covid tests, with just certain groups of people still able to access them for free.
Here's where to get tests and who can still get them for free.
Who will still have access to free tests?
A few select groups of people will still get Covid tests for free. These include:
- Patients in hospital who must have a PCR test for their care
- Those who are eligible for community Covid drug treatment as they are in a high risk group for getting seriously ill if they catch the virus
- Residents in care homes
- Workers in certain high risk settings, including care homes and prisons
Everyone else will have to pay for Covid tests, with pharmacies charging on average £2 per test.
It means certain groups who could be considered higher risk, such as unpaid carers, will miss out on free testing.
Schools and colleges will stop regular testing, while employers who want their staff to keep doing tests will have to pay for them.
More than 300,000 people in England have now signed a petition from Keep Our NHS Public that urges the government to continue with free Covid tests.
Where to get Covid tests
Leading pharmacy chains in the UK are selling Covid tests in stores and online, with single tests priced around £2 or just under.
Lloyds Pharmacy, for instance, is selling single lateral flow Covid tests for £1.89 while customers can pick up a pack of five for £9.29.
The pharmacy chain is also offering both PCR and lateral flow test services, both in-store and at-home, with prices starting at £12.99.
PCR test results take around 24 to 26 hours to come back, while you can get a lateral flow result in 15 minutes.
Other chains that will be selling Covid tests are:
- Boots Pharmacy will offer coronavirus tests in more than 400 shops across the country. They are charging £2 for single tests and £9.80 for five.
- Tesco Pharmacy will sell lateral flow tests in 1,500 stores, with prices starting at £2. If you live in London you'll be able to order these online, and the online rollout for the rest of the country will happen in May.
- Superdrug told Sky News that lateral flows will be purchasable in store for £1.99 for a single test and £9.79 for a pack of five tests.
- Morrisons is going to be selling single tests in shops for £1.75.
The government has said that ending free universal testing is possible because of vaccinations and anti viral drugs.
