As from 1st April, free testing will come to an end for most people in England, resulting in business groups warning that the cost and responsibility of testing should not fall on employers.

The British Chambers of Commerce has said that the government ‘must not pass on public health decisions to businesses’ - and their Co-Executive Director, Claire Walker stated:

"Access to free testing is key to managing workplace sickness and maintaining consumer confidence. If the government is to remove this, companies must still be able to access tests on a cost-effective basis.”

Matthew Fell - a Policy Director at the Confederation of British Industry - is also of the opinion that free testing benefits businesses.

He said:

"While free testing cannot continue forever, there is a balance to be struck between confidence building and cost-cutting. Mass lateral flow testing has kept our economy open and firms continue to believe the economic benefits far outweigh the costs."

However, Kitty Ussher - Chief Economist at the Institute of Directors - commented that many business leaders will see the Prime Minister’s announcement as a sign that the worst of the pandemic is over - but they will still want to try to keep staff and customers safe.

She said:

"It is up to individual businesses to determine their own arrangements in the way that works for them. In this regard, keeping lateral flow tests free until 1st April - and longer for vulnerable groups - will be welcome."

In addition to the end of free testing, self-isolation rules will also end - as well as self-isolation payments for those on low incomes.

Despite people with Covid no longer being legally required to self-isolate, guidance will remain in place for those who test positive to stay at home and avoid contact with others for at least five full days – but self-isolation support payments of £500 for those on low incomes will no longer be available. Nor will it be a requirement for workers to tell their employer if they need to self-isolate.

Dan Shears - National Health and Safety Director for the GMB Union - criticised the Prime Minister's announcement as "nonsensical".

He stated:

"Asking people to exercise responsibility whilst taking away a key workplace provision for them to do that just shows how incompetent this government is.”

He added:

"The UK's poverty statutory sick pay rates, among the lowest in Europe, are a public health hazard as workers cannot afford to stay home when they are ill."