Free Covid testing for most people in the UK ended this month as part of the government's plans to live with the virus. In England, lateral flow tests (LFTs) are no longer available for free, unless you are a patient in hospital, at high risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus and eligible for Covid-19 treatments, or you work in an NHS or social care setting.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are no longer available for free in England or Wales either, but people in Scotland and Northern Ireland might still be eligible to get one free of charge. PCR test prices vary from place to place, but here is a round-up of current test prices from pharmacies and stores in England.
Boots is selling in-store PCR tests for £79, with results back in 48 hours. The test 'isn't suitable for people with Covid-19 symptoms or children under five years of age.' Meanwhile Lloyds pharmacy is charging £79 for in-store PCR tests, which again are not for people 'experiencing Covid symptoms.'
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Bupa is selling an at-home 'general Covid-19 PCR' tests for £99, while Project Screen is selling 'Day 2 PCR tests' for £59. Meanwhile, the government has published a list of 'general population COVID-19 testing providers' which includes lateral flow tests (LFTs).
From 11 January, the government announced that people who tested positive on a LFT no longer needed take a confirmatory PCR test to confirm they have coronavirus. And just more than a month later, on 24 February, all coronavirus restrictions in England were lifted.
People were no longer legally required to self-isolate if they tested positive for Covid, although they were still advised to do so. From 1 April, universal free testing for both symptomatic and asymptomatic people came to an end.
On the government's plan to live with Covid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid said: "Thanks to our plan to tackle COVID we are leading the way in learning to live with the virus. We have made enormous progress but will keep the ability to respond to future threats including potential variants.
"Vaccines remain our best defence and we are now offering spring boosters to the elderly, care home residents and the most vulnerable – please come forward to protect yourself, your family, and your community."
