Everyone in England will receive free coronavirus tests twice a week starting on Friday, the UK government announced 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.
The rapid test is currently available only to those most at risk and for people who need to leave home to work – including frontline healthcare professionals, home and resident workers, school children and their families.
As of Friday, everyone, including people who have no symptoms, will be able to access a free trial.
The tests will be available through a home delivery service, in test centers, workplaces and schools, the statement added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
As we continue to make good progress in our vaccine program and with our roadmap to cautiously alleviate ongoing restrictions, regular rapid testing is even more important to ensure that these efforts are not wasted.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in the statement that the test is crucial because “about one in three people with Covid-19 has no symptoms”.
“As we reopen society and take back parts of life that we all lost, regular rapid tests will be instrumental in helping us detect positive cases and suppress any outbreaks,” he added.
Johnson is set to make plans to make the blockade even easier today. This is expected to include some form of “Covid certification” for mass events and a new “traffic light” system for international travel, which is scheduled to resume from May 17.
As part of that plan, those arriving from “green” countries will not have to isolate themselves, while those from “red” or “amber” nations will be required to follow mandatory quarantine measures.