Calls for cap on Covid test costs as poll finds public unwilling to pay

There have been calls for a cap on the cost of Covid tests, as an exclusive poll for The Independent finds overwhelming public opposition to having to pay.

The survey found 66 per cent of voters oppose Boris Johnson’s decision, announced last week as part of his plan for England to live with Covid, to charge for lateral flow and PCR tests from 1 April.

And the Savanta ComRes poll revealed widespread concern about the prime minister’s decision to lift the legal requirement to isolate after a positive test for coronavirus.

Around a third of those questioned said they now feel unsafe in public places, half said they intend to avoid crowds and one in five to avoid coming in to work as a result.

Universal free testing is being ditched at the end of next month in order to save costs which have run to £2bn a month.

Only people classed as vulnerable will continue to receive free tests, while others are expected to have to pay around £15-30 for a pack of seven lateral flows. Boots has said it will sell individual tests in-store for £2.50 each or £12 for a pack of five.

Today’s poll suggested that the expected price levels will prove a major barrier to take-up of tests, with 86 per cent saying they are not prepared to pay more than £10 for seven tests and just 5 per cent willing to shell out more than £20.

Some 66 per cent said tests should continue to be free for all and 23 per cent free for the elderly and vulnerable only, while just 5 per cent said everyone should pay.

Scientists including Prof John Edmunds, a member of the government’s Sage advisory group, and World Health Organisation envoy Dr David Nabarro, are expected to raise concerns about a drop-off in testing at an evidence session of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Covid on Tuesday.

The APPG’s chair, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, told The Independent: “By rushing to lift regulations to appease his backbenchers and scrapping free tests to placate his miserly chancellor, the prime minister has left many feeling unsafe and will further entrench divisions between those who can afford to self-isolate or fork out for tests and those who cannot.

“It is clear the public overwhelmingly wants tests to continue to be free, but if the government is going to continue to ignore these concerns and press ahead with this unfair scheme, they must also introduce a price cap and consider removing VAT for Covid tests.”

A majority of members of the public taking part in the Savanta ComRes poll (57 per cent) said they will continue to isolate if testing positive for Covid-19, whether they feel ill or not, despite it no longer being a legal requirement.

But 30 per cent said they would stay home only if they feel unwell and 6 per cent said they would not isolate if infected under any circumstances, despite medical evidence that people with Covid are contagious to others whether they have symptoms or not.

More than one in five (21 per cent) said that the loss of the £500 support payment for less well-off Covid sufferers – which was ditched last Thursday – will make them less likely to isolate in future.

Some 38 per cent said they fell unsafe on public transport and 28 per cent in hospitality venues like pubs and restaurants now that all restrictions have been lifted in England.

And more than half (51 per cent) said they are more likely to try to avoid crowded areas, 40 per cent to stay off public transport and 21 per cent to resist going to their workplace as a result of the lifting of restrictions.

Savanta ComRes questioned 2,201 adults in Britain on 19-20 February.