Everyone in England will receive free coronavirus tests twice a week from Friday, the British government said in a statement on Monday.
The new testing regime is part of the government’s plan to reopen the economy in a way that would not lead to an increase in cases.
Rapid testing is currently only available to those most at risk and to people who have to leave home to work – including health care workers, home care staff and residents, schoolchildren and their families.
Starting Friday, everyone, including asymptomatic people, will be able to access a free test.
The tests will be available through a home delivery service, testing centers, workplaces and schools, the statement added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
As we continue to make significant progress on our vaccination program and roadmap for prudently reducing ongoing restrictions, regular rapid testing is even more important to ensure that these efforts are not wasted.
British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement that the test was crucial because “around one in three people who have Covid-19 have no symptoms”.
“As we reopen society and resume parts of life, we all gladly missed, regular rapid testing will be key to helping us quickly identify positive cases and eliminate any outbreaks,” he added.
Johnson is going to outline plans for further easing the blockade later today. They are expected to include a form of “Covid certification” for mass events and a new “traffic light” system for international travel, which is currently scheduled to resume on 17 May.
As part of this plan, those arriving from “green” countries will not have to isolate themselves, while those from “red” or “amber” nations will have to follow mandatory quarantine measures.