Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Covid-19 Update

29 March 2022 · Department of Health and Social Care

Proposed by Sajid Javid Con Bromsgrove

NHS

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • The UK government is moving from legal domestic restrictions to guidance for managing COVID-19.
  • The government plans to reduce free universal testing and continue targeted symptomatic testing for high-risk groups.
  • New guidance on testing will be published on April 1st.

Issue summary

The statement outlines the UK government's transition from legal domestic restrictions to guidance-based approach for managing COVID-19, focusing on protecting vulnerable individuals and maintaining surveillance capabilities.

Action requested

The Government is setting out a future approach to testing beyond April, reducing free universal testing while continuing targeted symptomatic testing for high-risk groups and retaining critical infrastructure for rapid response to new variants. Additional guidance will be published on April 1st.

Key facts

  • The Living with COVID-19 strategy has removed legal domestic restrictions in England.
  • Free symptomatic testing will continue for those at higher risk of severe illness from the virus.
  • Asymptomatic testing will be reduced and targeted, especially after April 1st, except for high-risk settings like prisons and certain refuges.
  • UKHSA maintains genomic sequencing capabilities to identify new variants and respond rapidly if needed.
  • Guidance on actions for those with symptoms of COVID-19 or respiratory illness will be published on April 1st.
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