Boots selling Covid tests for £6 each ahead of rule change

Boots will be selling Covid tests after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that England must learn to live with Covid.

Johnson set out his Living with Covid plan for England on Monday, saying that free testing for the general public would end on April 1.

From today, customers can buy tests online, with one lateral flow costing £5.99 or four lateral flow tests for £17 with delivery.

From next month, the health and beauty retailer offer lateral flow tests at over 400 Boots stores, priced at £2.50 for a single test or £12 for a pack of five.

These tests will also be available on boots.com, alongside a bundle for two tests at £4.75 and four tests at £9.50.

Asif Aziz, Director of Healthcare Services at Boots UK, said: “We are pleased to be expanding our Covid-19 testing services even further, with affordable lateral flow testing options for those who still want peace of mind from asymptomatic testing after 1 April.

“While it is great that we are returning to normal and finding a way to live with Covid-19, we encourage our customers and patients to stay safe and continue to take measures to limit the spread of the virus, especially to those in vulnerable groups.”

Ministers were warned after the announcement that people may face a choice between “eating or heating or paying for a Covid test” and the news faced criticism.

But the Government gave assurances that the price of lateral flow tests in the future would be “monitored” and regulated.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid insisted that NHS workers would still receive free tests if it was a requirement for work.

He said: “If NHS staff need tests they will be provided with free tests – that will be a decision for the NHS.

“Even before Covid, the NHS has always sensibly made a decision on tests and keeping their staff safe, because keeping staff safe means keeping their patients safe and it’s always about patient safety.”