The Government has announced that universal Covid testing for free will be discontinued under its Rampdown program.
Currently anyone can ask for free lateral flow testing delivered to their home. Those with symptoms will be advised to get free PCR tests which are performed in labs.
The Mail has obtained a leaked dossier that shows the Government plans to eliminate the highly expensive and unnecessary tests. Instead testing will focus on the most vulnerable, which includes those who live in hospitals or care homes. It can also be used to manage local epidemics.
In September, a document was created showing how officials warned of the danger that families would’stockpile’ lateral flow testing. There is the possibility that public statements about ending free testing could encourage stockpiling or incentive people to get free tests through symptomatic routes.
The Government has announced that universal Covid free testing will be eliminated under its Rampdown Plans
The third wave of Daily UK Cases peaked at 54,674 in July. However, the numbers remained elevated for three months and reached 52,009 by October 21. The numbers have been steadily declining since then, but they are now slightly higher.
This central planning assumption, also known as “leaving soon”, would have seen a spike in July at 65,000 cases per day with modest levels by October. In reality, none of the above scenarios worked.
Johnson, who warned last week that “storm clouds” are gathering in Europe, said the UK could see more cases.
Privately, government officials believe that meeting the World Health Organisation goal of 70% vaccinations is not likely to be achieved. A total of 80 countries (half of which are in Africa) will miss the target to vaccinate 40% of their populations by year’s end.
“Any charge to test is likely to dissuade the most vulnerable people, even the poorest from using the tests.”
According to the document, officials plan on launching a “private testing market” in which test-taker companies charge for services. According to the document, approximately 500 testing companies that offer 150 products have been accredited.
We have created the foundation to allow for a controlled private market both for LFDs and PCR. [lateral flow devices]… To mobilise a private market, we would need to signal publicly and directly a firm end date for universal free testing.’
The controversial idea of handing over the entire lucrative testing system to private companies is not likely. People currently have to purchase their own PCR testing for travel on the open market. This created an ‘Wild West of misinformation and high prices.
Mass testing had been a critical part of Britain’s fight against the virus, but a damning report by MPs last month found that despite an ‘eye-watering’ £37 billion budget over two years, NHS Test and Trace has failed in its main objective of helping stop the virus spreading.
More than 691 million free lateral flow tests have been distributed in the past year but only 96 million of these – 14 per cent – have been used to register a test result with the NHS, the report by the Public Accounts Committee found.
France ended free tests last month and the six million adults there who are not vaccinated now have to pay between £18 and £37 per test.
Free tests were axed in Germany on October 11 and now cost £16. The Government could charge test takers for their tests as soon as January and then hand them over to the private sector. This is one option that England has been considering.
As vaccination rates rise, officials are considering eliminating regular school testing. All secondary and college students must take the lateral flow test at home two times per week.
While ministers have declared that routine mass testing will be in place until December holidays, officials are now considering whether or not to abandon them for targeted testing to control local outbreaks.