UK politics live: ending free Covid testing would be a mistake, says Keir Starmer
Latest updates: Labour leader opposes plans to wind down free Covid testing, currently being pushed by chancellor Rishi Sunak
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Ministers’ plans to scale back free PCR Covid tests could weaken the UK’s defences if a new variant of the virus emerges that results in “significant new waves” of cases, a group representing local public health chiefs has warned.
Before a meeting of cabinet ministers and the prime minister later this week to discuss the “learning to live with Covid” strategy, the Association of Public Health Directors (APHD) said that forcing people to pay for lateral flow tests would also have a “detrimental impact” on take-up, particularly among disadvantaged communities.
So far we have not seen any de-escalation on the ground – on the contrary, it appears that Russia continues the military buildup.
We will continue to convey a very clear message to Russia that we are ready to sit down and discuss with them but at the same time we are prepared for the worst.
And if Russia once again invades Ukraine, they will pay a high price.
Read the original article at The Guardian