The government has said it is keeping its provision of free lateral flow tests under review as reports say they are due to end.

It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to announce the end of all coronavirus restrictions in England.

Ministers hope plans to wind down COVID testing and payments for isolation will save more than £10bn, according to reports in The Guardian and The Times.

Living with COVID

The papers said No 10, the Treasury and the health department will decide on a “living with COVID strategy” which will be published next week.

It will involve phasing out free COVID testing and ending the tracing system.

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PCR testing could also be scaled back so it is only available to older people and those considered clinically vulnerable.

‘No decisions have been made’

Responding to the reports, a spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “We’ve previously set out that we’ll keep the provision of free testing under review as the government’s response to COVID-19 changes.

“No decisions have been made on the provision of free testing. 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.”

PM plans to remove all remaining restrictions

It comes after the prime minister said he could remove all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England a month early.

Mr Johnson said that “providing the current encouraging trends in the data continue,” he expects to end the remaining restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive test.

The regulations were due to expire on 24 March and under Mr Johnson’s new aim would expire shortly after MPs return from recess on 21 February.

Downing Street later clarified that it would not recommend anyone go to work if they have coronavirus.

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