CARE workers and hospital staff are still able to access free lateral flow tests despite widespread free testing for covid ending from April 1.

The NHS says that testing will continue in some high-risk settings where infection can spread rapidly.

This includes staff dealing directly with patients in hospital, care homes, adult social care in people’s homes, prisons, domestic abuse refuges and in residential accommodation for people with special educational needs or with disabilities.

Meanwhile, Devon County Council has stated that the Government has stockpiled laterel flow tests should fresh variants of Covid-19 appear.