Covid tests no longer required for most care home visitors
Most visitors to care homes will not need to test for Covid, the government has announced in its Living with Covid guidance.
Care home visitors, apart from those giving personal care, will no longer have to test for Covid, though tests will continue to be free for staff and residents.
Health secretary Sajid Javid made the announcement as part of the government's Living with Covid guidance. From Friday 1 April, free testing for the public stops, but those living and working in high-risk settings, including care homes, hospices and home care settings, will still be given free asymptomatic lateral flow testing.
The cost of lateral flow tests is likely to vary - at Boots, for example, they will cost £2.50 each or £12 for a pack of five, while at Superdrug one will cost £1.99 and a five-pack will be £9.79.
The majority of visitors to care settings will not be required to take a test, the guidance says, and the government is set to publish further details relating to adult social care on 1 April. Essential caregivers, those providing personal care, will still need to test and will have access to free tests.
The new guidance, released this week, advises the public to stay at home and avoid contact with others if they have Covid-19 symptoms, while those who test positive are advised to stay at home and avoid contact with others for five days, when they are most symptomatic.
Adult social workers will also continue to be given free PPE equipment.
Earlier this month it was confirmed that people aged over 75, care home residents and those who are immunosuppressed are eligible to receive a spring booster jab.
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