Routine asymptomatic testing will be paused across remaining settings, including hospitals and care homes, from 31 August as COVID-19 cases continue to fall
Free testing for the public ended on 1 April as part of the government’s Living with COVID plan, but asymptomatic testing continued to be used in some settings during periods of high case rates. The vaccination programme means COVID-19 cases have now fallen to 40,027 and the risk of transmission has reduced. Deaths have fallen to 744 and hospitalisations to 6,005 in the last 7 days, meaning wider asymptomatic testing can soon end as planned in most instances. Symptomatic testing in high-risk settings will continue.
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‘Thanks to the success of our world-leading vaccination roll-out, we are able to continue living with COVID and, from 31 August, we will pause routine asymptomatic testing in most high-risk settings,’ said Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay.
‘This reflects the fact case rates have fallen and the risk of transmission has reduced, though we will continue to closely monitor the situation and work with sectors to resume testing should it be needed. Those being admitted into care homes will continue to be tested.’
The move has been criticised by the RCN, who say it leaves nursing staff at risk. ‘Nursing staff are only too aware of the terrible toll the failure to test can have on some of their most vulnerable patients in hospitals and across social care. Cases of COVID-19 may well be falling but this virus has still not gone away, and it is vital that there is continued vigilance to ensure patients and nursing staff are not put at risk,’ said RCN Director for England Patricia Marquis.
‘Nursing staff in all settings must continue to have access to free testing and high-quality personal protective equipment. Risk assessments, in line with health and safety legislation, should be undertaken by all health care staff. We have all come a long way and must not risk any backwards step when health services are already under enormous pressure.’