People may be forced to fork out for lateral flow tests from next month, the Government has revealed.
The Department of Health and Social Care has said the tests were only guaranteed to be free until the end of July.
A statement will be released in due course to reveal whether the free test trial will be extended.
A spokesperson told the Independent: “A statement will be forthcoming about whether or not it will be extended beyond that."
The possible U-turn comes just three months after a huge government campaign was launched urging people to do a test twice a week.
Labour has condemned the possible sidetrack, especially as a third Covid wave is underway.
The tests were made readily available from workplaces, and other public community places for anyone without Covid symptoms.
The latest NHS figures show a total of 135,685 people tested positive for Covid-19 in England at least once in the week to June 30, up 71% on the previous week, according to the latest Test and Trace figures.
It is the highest number since the week to February 3.
There are risks to the NHS if England eases coronavirus restriction this month, the chief executive of NHS Providers has said.
Chris Hopson told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We need to be realistic and we need to be open and honest about the fact that there are risks if we relax these restrictions and there will be consequences.
“The NHS won’t be able to do everything given the demand pressures it has got and the fact that we have got reduced capacity in terms of both beds and staff numbers.”
He said there would be “very significant” pressure on the NHS and “we will have to dial back on elective recovery”.
