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Liam O'Dell
Jan 09, 2022
News of the UK Government reportedly planning to stop free lateral flow tests except for a number of “high-risk” settings has outraged members of the public, who have described the possible move as “reckless” and “completely and utterly dangerous”.
In a report which suggests the government are more interested in testing our patience than testing for coronavirus, The Sunday Times said the proposals for free tests to be limited to places such as care homes, schools and hospitals are set to be announced by Boris Johnson “within weeks”.
A senior Whitehall source told the outlet: “I don’t think we are in a world where we can continue to hand out free lateral flow tests to everybody forevermore.
“It’s likely we will move to a scenario where there is less testing but we have a capacity to ramp it up if necessary.”
People with symptoms would also be able to access free tests, according to the report, while the amount of contact tracing by NHS Test and Trace – a service that spent £13.5 billion up to April 2021 – could be scaled back.
The plans – which are understood to be part of the government’s move for us to “live” with the virus - are reportedly being considered despite a rising number of coronavirus cases, as the UK continues to deal with the highly infectious Omicron variant.
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Wes Streeting, Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary, warned the move would be “the wrong decision at the wrong time”, while Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon said if the prime minister was “really considering this” it would be “utterly wrongheaded”.
She also confirmed that the Scottish government had not signed up to the plans.
Meanwhile, Twitter users have expressed outrage at the news:
This is the one thing I think Britain has that most others don't in terms of pandemic precautions - and they're goi… https://t.co/yInfsaCMSs— James Gray (@James Gray) 1641719263
Im surprised it’s taken this long for this to be announced to be honest. But what an unbelievably terrible and reck… https://t.co/glkBJzxP46— Professor James Logan 💙 (@Professor James Logan 💙) 1641718997
The wrong decision at the wrong time. Pandemic isn’t over and government must remain committed to protecting public. https://t.co/mEbzzGsIh7— Thom Brooks (@Thom Brooks) 1641719134
Funny. They’re more concerned about the millions it costs to keep the public safe from a killer virus rather than m… https://t.co/WWmPdk74IE— Adil Ray OBE (@Adil Ray OBE) 1641714100
Breaking news from the government that’s been saying for months that lateral flow tests are essential to allow us t… https://t.co/c9MWX2VFbD— David Schneider (@David Schneider) 1641690275
WHAT??? Lateral flow tests have literally been the thing that make me feel safe enough to meet up with people. Cov… https://t.co/g2mFiICYym— Dr Sally Le Page (@Dr Sally Le Page) 1641685188
Scrapping lateral flow tests is a huge "traffic accident deaths are down so we don't need seatbelts any more" vibe https://t.co/AhUss9Ffbt— Tom Phillips (@Tom Phillips) 1641681745
Every time I think the management of this pandemic cannot get more stupid, they wow me once again. So looking forwa… https://t.co/mHRtXjCWp0— Dr Hannah Barham-Brown (@Dr Hannah Barham-Brown) 1641680381
The ability to ‘live with Covid’ is not experienced equally. Many are exposed to risk of covid at work and need to… https://t.co/Hh6OfF6txV— Jo Grady (@Jo Grady) 1641679957
Protect public health? Of course not. Let’s line some already rich pockets and make the peasants pay for their own… https://t.co/JN4INMAMzS— Jane Hamilton (@Jane Hamilton) 1641674385
Putting aside the covid implications this doesn't feel like a great way to help with the cost of living problem. https://t.co/stjNApGtC7— Sam Freedman (@Sam Freedman) 1641673701
Free lateral flow tests are one of the few things making the pandemic slightly less terrifying for clinically vulne… https://t.co/sk4I1IKiPH— Frances Ryan (@Frances Ryan) 1641679025
Had to double check this was serious. What on earth is this government thinking? Bad enough not to pay people pro… https://t.co/ZSNhCj1nUF— Caroline Lucas (@Caroline Lucas) 1641681988
The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Lateral… https://t.co/BAWwKyauQT— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙 (@Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙) 1641716121
While a government spokesperson did not address whether access to free lateral flows would be cut back in the future, they told The Independent: “Everyone can continue to get free tests and we are continuing to encourage people to use rapid tests when they need them.
“Testing continues to play an important role in helping people live their day-to-day lives, keep businesses running and keep young people in school.”
Speaking to Sky News’ Trevor Phillips on Sunday, Nadhim Zahawi, the education secretary, said he did not recognise the Sunday Times report.
“This is absolutely not where we are at ... They’ll continue to be available for free,” he said.