Two friends sit on the Seawall on a warm sunny Easter Sunday at Chalkwell Beach on April 4, 2021 in Southend-on-Sea, England.
John Keeble | Getty Images News | Getty images
LONDON – Everyone in England will be able to receive two free Covid tests every week as the UK government doubles down on its efforts to reopen the economy.
Results of the tests are given in approximately 30 minutes. People living in England can order the tests online or pick them up locally, the government announced Monday. The scheme, which starts on Friday, will come as the country gears up to reopen shops and pubs in less than 10 days. Most have been closed since the end of 2020.
“This is a very important step forward, one more step that will help us, by easing those restrictions, bring life back to normal in this country,” UK Health Minister Edward Argar told Sky News Monday.
England has been in lockdown mode since the end of December, but for a week people were allowed to meet outside in groups of up to six. At least three more benchmark dates will arrive before all legal limits on social contact are lifted, hopefully by the end of June.
However, the plan to fully reopen the economy will depend on the evolution of the pandemic and the country’s vaccination program.
To date, more than 31 million people in the UK have received their first dose. More than 5 million people have now received their second vaccine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will speak UK time on Monday at 5pm and outline plans for international travel rules.
Currently, international travel is limited to May 17. Reports suggest that once travel abroad is allowed, quarantine regulations will depend on a “traffic light system” – meaning those traveling to countries on a “green” list will not be required to isolate on their return to the UK
Pre- and post-arrival tests are likely to continue even when coming from a destination considered to be of low risk.
The prime minister is also expected to name coronavirus passports – documents that indicate whether a person has been vaccinated, recently tested negative for the coronavirus, or has natural immunity.