As the pandemic enters a new phase, Health Minister Sajid Javid said COVID would be treated like any other respiratory infection. Free lateral flow tests for asymptomatic people are coming to an end today, but will remain for some groups, Javid said. Follow the Daily Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker These groups that will continue to have access to asymptomatic lateral flow tests are: • Staff treating NHS and NHS independent healthcare providers • Staff in hostels and adult social care services, such as nursing homes and home care • Small number of care home guests providing personal care • Staff in some prisons and detention facilities • Staff in high-risk domestic abuse shelters and homeless areas. These groups will be provided with asymptomatic lateral flow control during an outbreak: • Schools with special needs and disability at home • Staff and occupants of the care home (also upon admission) Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:51 The big victim of COVID is still suffering The announced plans also revealed that free trials will continue for some people with COVID symptoms – these include: • Some patients in the hospital where PCR is required to care for and provide access to treatment and to support ongoing clinical follow-up for new variants • People who qualify for community-based treatment for COVID as they are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill – we will contact these people directly and send them a side-flow test at home for use if they have symptoms • People will be examined before being discharged from hospital in care homes, hostels, homeless shelters and shelters for domestic abuse Image: Schools and colleges will stop regular side flow tests People with symptoms should “try” to stay home Today’s guidance says that people with symptoms of COVID or other respiratory infections should “try” to stay home and “avoid contact with other people” until they feel better and do not have a high temperature. This includes school students. Those who are positive for COVID should try to stay home for five days. Mr Javid said: “Thanks to our plan to tackle COVID, we are at the forefront of learning to live with the virus. “We have made tremendous progress, but we will retain the ability to respond to future threats, including possible variations. “Vaccines remain our best defense and we now offer spring breaks to the elderly, caregivers and the most vulnerable – please protect yourself, your family and your community.” Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 4:35 Offer for the COVID wall to become permanent NHS staff feared they would have to pay £ 50 a month for exams The change comes after ministers were accused of leaving NHS staff in the dark about whether or not they should pay for their own coronavirus tests, as the majority of the population should do now. The NHS Confederation said workers could be forced to pay around 50 50 a month for exams if they had to pay for it themselves. Currently, health workers are still required to get tested twice a week for the virus. Image: Infections are on the rise, but most people in hospital with COVID were not admitted because of the virus Infections are increasing The end of free universal tests is coming despite infections and hospital admissions rising in recent weeks, but the government said more than 55% of hospitals that tested positive had not been admitted with COVID-19 as the primary diagnosis. The government said free universal funding for testing, tracking and isolation had “significant costs for taxpayers”, costing more than 15 15.7 billion between 2021 and 2022. He added that the vaccination program and access to antiviral drugs, along with physical immunity and increased scientific and public understanding of how to manage the risk, means that the population now has much stronger protection against COVID “than anywhere else in the world.” pandemic “. People trying to order the latest available lateral flow tests are discouraged from ordering packages when trying to access them online.
