As free Covid testing is scrapped for members of the British public on Friday, the government has clarified who can access free tests. Mass PCR and lateral flow testing is being brought to an end - but free testing is available to a small number of groups who are symptomatic.
This means that those taking tests from April 1 must already be showing symptoms. Free tests will be limited to patients in hospital, people who are eligible for Covid-19 treatments because they are at a higher risk of getting severely ill from the virus, and individuals 'who live or work in high-risk closed settings'.
But amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, there are serious concerns about the ending of free testing - especially for those unable to afford to buy kits with soaring bills. The new policy has then come several days delayed, the Manchester Evening News reports, after the Department of Health and Social Care redrafted elements of the forthcoming testing protocols at the end of last week.
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The statement reads: "The Government will continue to provide free symptomatic testing for:
- patients in hospital, for whom a test is required for clinical management or to support treatment pathways.
- people who are eligible for Covid-19 treatments because they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19. People in this group will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests to keep at home for use if they have symptoms as well as being told how to reorder tests.
- individuals who live or work in high-risk closed settings , for example in some NHS, social care and prison (and other places of detention) settings where infection needs to be identified quickly to minimise outbreaks."
The policy does not clarify a number of finer points such as which NHS, social care, and prison settings specifically, nor whether those who are at higher risk of severe effects of the virus - but do not get Covid treatments - will be able to access free tests.
The Department of Health and Social Care also says it will 'continue to fund some asymptomatic testing in NHS services, adult social care services, and hospices during periods of higher prevalence'. However, there is no mention of exactly which NHS and social care services this will apply to, or what 'higher prevalence' is defined as.
There is also no guidance on testing for those unable to afford to purchase tests. Boots is selling the devices for £2.50 each or £12 for a pack of five, or £17 for a pack of four with the extra option to send results to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), reports i News.
Elsewhere on the high street, a Healgen lateral flow test costs £1.99 at Superdrug, which is also selling a five-pack from Flowflex for £9.79.
At leading Covid test provider Randox, a pack of three lateral flow tests are available to purchase for £15 and a pack of 12 lateral flow tests are on sale for £47.50. At online retailer 0 Covid Clear, another Government listed provider, prices for a single lateral flow test start at £14.99 and a single PCR test will set customers back £69.
More guidance will be issued on Friday, April 1, by the government 'that sets out the actions that those with symptoms of Covid-19 or respiratory illness should take to reduce risk of infection to others'.
