LFD) tests for the management of outbreaks in higher risk settings will come to an end in England. However, free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to determine the cause of an acute respiratory infection outbreak in higher risk settings, where deemed appropriate by a local UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) health protection team (HPT), will remain to test for a wide range of respiratory viruses.The cohort of people eligible for COVID-19 treatments can still access free COVID-19 LFDs from their local pharmacy.
These people, who are at highest risk of getting seriously ill, are encouraged to test to gain timely access to treatments. A full list of those who are eligible, and information on how to access tests, is available on the NHS website: Routine asymptomatic COVID-19 LFD testing on discharge from hospital into care or hospice settings will also end to align with the approach for other respiratory illnesses, though NHS Trusts will have local discretion to re-introduce this or other forms of testing as clinically appropriate following risk assessment, involving local authority public health teams, UKHSA HPTs and care providers as necessary in decision making.Within healthcare settings, limited testing, including symptomatic testing of staff working on inpatient wards focused on treating profoundly immunocompromised individuals, will continue in line with locally derived protocols to protect those most at risk.
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