Daily lateral flow tests will be offered to 100,000 “critical workers” as part of efforts to combat the rapid spread of Coronavirus.
Boris Johnson said staff working in key industries would receive test kits from January 10.
The announcement came as the number of daily new cases in the UK passed 200,000 for the first time on Tuesday as the Omicron variant continues to surge.
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Speaking in a Downing Street press conference this evening, the Prime Minister outlined a number of tactics he hopes will keep essential services open.
Mr Johnson revealed staff working in areas such as food processing, transport and the Border Force would be sent test kits for every working day from next Monday.
Mr Johnson also said qualified teachers who had left the profession were being urged to return to the classroom to help schools deal with staff shortages.
He added that 2,500 “virtual beds” are allowing many ill people to be treated at home instead of in hospital and said NHS capacity will be upgraded via the construction and implementation of further on-site Nightingale hospitals across the country.
The Prime Minister announced the Government is looking to identify certain trusts which need extra help from volunteers and said: "We're mobilising our volunteers - the emerging territorial army of the NHS, and we're working to identify those NHS trusts which are most likely to need actual military support so that this can be repaired now."
Mr Johnson stressed his belief that, despite the high number of coronavirus cases being recorded in the UK, there was a "chance" extra restrictions would not be needed in England.
He said: "As the NHS moves to a war footing I will be recommending to Cabinet tomorrow we continue with Plan B because the public have responded and changed their behaviour buying valuable time to get boosters in arms."
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