Rapid Covid-19 tests to be offered twice-weekly to everyone in England

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pushes to test all to help reopen country

Everyone in England will be urged to take a coronavirus test twice a week as a new system of Covid-19 passports is assessed for wide-scale use, under Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s plan to reopen the economy after lockdown.

Free test kits will be made available through local pharmacies, community centres and home delivery services, when the new regime goes live on April 9.

With most of the adult population having received a vaccine, the government believes rapid testing of the whole population and a system of Covid-19 status certification will help keep control over the pandemic as restrictions are eased.

The UK is to introduce two other steps to show life is returning to normal after a cycle of lockdowns, allowing foreign holidays and spectators at live events.

Mr Johnson will make the announcements on Monday after an Easter holiday that was England's first weekend this year with eased coronavirus restrictions.
He will introduce a traffic-light system for international travel, where countries will be in one of three categories depending on their coronavirus infection rate.
He will also announce a pilot programme to allow spectators at top-level sports, comedy shows and other live events.

Travellers from 33 'red list' countries, including South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, must be quarantined in hotels rooms for 10 days at their own expense. EPA

Passengers travelling from 'red list' countries are escorted through the arrivals area of terminal 5 of Heathrow airport and onto a coach, on February 16, 2021. Getty Images

An aircraft flies over the Sofitel at London Heathrow airport on February 15, 2021. Bloomberg

A woman accompanied by a boy and girl stand and gesture out of a window from inside the Radisson Blu hotel at Heathrow Airport in west London on February 17, 2021 where they are undertaking mandatory hotel quarantine because of the coronavirus pandemic. AFP

A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, as Britain introduces hotel quarantine programme for arrivals from a "red list" of 30 countries, amidst the coronavirus disease outbreak in London, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters

A person holds a sign from a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, as Britain introduces hotel quarantine programme for arrivals from a "red list" of 30 countries in London, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters

A paper bag with a message written on it is seen in a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel at Heathrow Airport, Britain, February 16, 2021. Reuters

Passengers are escorted by security to a coach destined for the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. EPA / Getty

Passengers are escorted by security to a coach destined for the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. EPA / Getty

A mobile Covid-19 testing centre run by Randox is set upon the grounds of the Radisson Blu hotel near Heathrow airport. Getty Images

The cost of a 10-day stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel is 1,700 pounds or 2,400 pounds for a couple sharing a room. EPA / Getty

Zari Tadayon looks through a window of the Radisson Blu Hotel near Heathrow airport. Reuters

"We are doing everything we can to enable the reopening of our country so people can return to the events, travel and other things they love as safely as possible," Mr Johnson said.

"And these reviews will play an important role in allowing this to happen."
Under the traffic-light travel system, those travelling from red countries will have to quarantine on return, amber will involve isolation at home and green will involve minimal testing on return.

There is no confirmation of which countries will receive which rating and international travel will not be allowed until May 17 at the earliest.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said certification for international travel was an "inevitability" and it could also be a "valuable aid" in reopening parts of the domestic economy faster.

"Unless the government takes a lead, we risk others establishing the rules of the road," Mr Gove wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.

"So where should the lines be drawn to help protect freedoms, respect privacy, promote equality and get us back to normality?

"Vaccination is a hugely powerful tool but it can never provide 100 per cent protection.

"That is why we need to look at every option potentially available to ensure the fastest, safest and most sustainable road back to normality.

"Given the hit the night-time economy and the entertainment sector has taken over the last year, anything that might help businesses reopen sooner must be worth considering.

"The Israeli approach involves a smartphone app and the NHS app could serve a similar purpose here."

England will launch its vaccine passport for live events in a trial at a comedy club, a nightclub and at FA Cup matches at Wembley as they try to determine how to safely host mass events.

The government said a Covid-status certification system was being developed, which would show whether a person has had a vaccine, a recent negative test or natural immunity from a positive test taken in the past six months.

A person cycles through Hyde Park in sunny weather in London. Reuters

Families enjoy a boating lake in Finsbury Park, London. AP Photo

Players from Hangleton First hold a team meeting before their match in the Brighton, Worthing & District Football League in Brighton, after restrictions on outdoor sports were lifted. AFP

Women draw hearts on the National Covid Memorial Wall on the south bank of the Thames in London. AP Photo

People enjoy a fine spring day in Stratford-upon-Avon. AP Photo

People enjoy the sunny weather in Sefton Park, Liverpool. AP Photo

A woman roller skates through Hyde Park in London. Reuters

People relax in sunny weather in Hyde Park. Reuters

The trial, to be run at nine events including the FA Cup semi-finals and final, will be used to assess whether large events can be held in closed settings without social distancing.

The system is unlikely to be used for public transport, shops or pubs.