Unions in Hull say scrapping free Covid tests is a ‘disgrace’
People will have to pay for lateral flow tests from April
Unions in Hull say scrapping free COVID tests is a ‘disgrace’ and is going to cause cases to rise.
From today pharmacies will begin selling lateral flow tests for £5.99, ahead of free kits being ditched on the 1st of April.
Joe Gibbins is from the Hull and district trades council and told us:
"The imposition of a charge testing for Covid is just going to make Covid worse, people are not going to test".
"We'll get another outbreak and if there's another strain I can see many more people dying".
"With the cost of living rising and fuel going up in some cases by 50 per cent how are they expecting people on minimum wage to actually but them?"
"These are the people who need to be tested on a regular basis."
"It's outrageous".
"All workers should be allowed to take a flow test if they're working with vulnerable people, such as people in education, healthcare, the NHS ".
"Taxi drivers - how can a taxi driver who's just scraping a living afford to take a flow test everyday before they go into work at that cost."
The Government has said the scheme has been very costly and with case numbers dropping they feel it's fair to bring in a charge.