Free COVID tests will still be available to certain groups after universal testing ends on Friday – but it could still be rolled out again if a new variant of concern emerges, the government has announced.

As the pandemic enters a new phase, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said COVID will start to be treated like other respiratory infections.

Free lateral flow tests for people without symptoms are set to end on Friday but will remain for certain groups, Mr Javid has announced.

Those groups who will continue to have access to asymptomatic lateral flow testing are:

• Patient-facing staff in the NHS and NHS-commissioned independent healthcare providers

• Staff in hospices and adult social care services such as care homes and home care

• A small number of care home visitors who provide personal care

COVID-19: Less than two-thirds of people self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus, figures show

COVID-19: Chinese city of Shanghai split in half using Huangpu River for new two-part lockdown

COVID: Father-of-two in coma with virus describes ‘journey from hell’ after waking up to find his wife had died

• Staff in some prisons and places of detention

• Staff in high-risk domestic abuse refuges and homelessness settings

These groups will be provided asymptomatic lateral flow testing during an outbreak:

• Residential special needs and disability schools

• Care home staff and residents (also upon admission)

The plans announced have also revealed that free testing will continue for some people with COVID symptoms – these include:

• Certain patients in hospital where a PCR test is required for their care and to provide access to treatments and to support ongoing clinical surveillance for new variants

• People who are eligible for community COVID treatments as they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill – these people will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests at home to use if they have symptoms

• People will be tested before being discharged from hospital into care homes, hospices, homelessness settings and domestic abuse refuges

Guidance from Friday says people with symptoms of COVID or other respiratory infections should “try” to stay home and “avoid contact with other people” until they feel better and have no high temperature. This includes schoolchildren.

Those who test positive for COVID should try to stay home for five days.

Related posts:

Another 454 COVID deaths and 12,057 cases in UK – as over 16.4 million have had first vaccine dose Blocking vaccine exports will harm EU reputation, minister warns Brussels ‘We are all they’ve got’: Carers acting as a lifeline for the vulnerable in lockdown Some schools allow kids late start on Monday after Euro final, amid calls for bank holiday Water company fined record £90m for dumping sewage thousands of times Chris Eubank ‘devastated’ after son Sebastian found dead days before 30th birthday ‘Aggressive’ flu viruses ‘bouncing back’ after prolonged lockdown, leading expert warns A&E to ward bed waiting time at its longest ever, NHS England data shows Average UK petrol and diesel prices hit record high, new data shows Metropolitan Police Federation says it has ‘no faith’ in Sadiq Khan following Cressida Dick resignation Ex-ambassador found dead in forest was suffering from ‘extreme stress’ while working on COVID taskforce, inquest told Met to appeal against ruling Sarah Everard vigil organisers’ rights were breached