Ending free COVID testing would be a mistake and make the pandemic worse in the long run, Sir Keir Starmer has said.

The Labour leader said it does not make sense for people’s health, or financially, after reports said the government is planning on halting free lateral flow and PCR tests from next week.

Sir Keir said: “I think ending free testing is a mistake, COVID isn’t going away.

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“Obviously all of us want restrictions to end but it’s still important that people test if they have symptoms or if they’re going to see someone vulnerable.

“If you take away free tests, that will diminish the likelihood of that and make it worse in the long run.

“It’s not good to get rid of free tests on health grounds, nor is it economically the right thing to do.”

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The government has not denied it will be stopping free tests next week but told Sky News on Tuesday no decisions have been made yet and the provision is being kept “under review as the government’s response to COVID-19 changes”.

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Health chiefs warn paid-for tests will have ‘detrimental impact’ on take-up

Health chiefs warned today forcing people to pay for lateral flow tests would have a “detrimental impact” on take-up, especially in disadvantaged communities.

The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) said providing the free tests is “extremely expensive” for the government and the current size of the programme is “not sustainable indefinitely”.

“However, they will clearly have a part to play in ongoing case identification and be of particular use for vulnerable groups and those living or working in high-risk settings,” they said.

“Until the pandemic is largely over everywhere there will be an ongoing need for surveillance for new variants that could cause significant new waves – and this requires PCR testing, not just LFTs.”

Ministers will meet later this week to discuss the “learning to live with COVID” strategy which will include removing the final coronavirus restrictions.

That includes ending the legal requirement to self-isolate if someone tests positive.

All COVID measures to be removed month early

Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced he plans to remove all remaining measures in England a month early, from around 21 February when MPs return from the half-term recess.

He told the Commons last Wednesday: “It is my intention to return on the first day after the half-term recess to present our strategy for living with COVID.

“Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions – including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive – a full month early.”

Downing Street said there will be guidance recommending people do not go to work if they have COVID-19 but there would be no legal requirement to.

Since the end of last month, fully vaccinated people with COVID-19 in England can end their self-isolation after five full days, as long as they test negative on day five and day six.

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