All in England can undergo two free COVID tests a week: UK PM Boris Johnson

A passenger wearing a face mask has his temperature taken as people queue at a British Airways check-in desk at Heathrow airport, west London last year. Pic/AFP

Everyone in England will be able to access free, regular, rapid Coronavirus testing from later this week to track asymptomatic COVID-19 cases, the UK government announced on Monday. As a step forward to start lifting lockdown restrictions for all businesses, shops and restaurants, anyone will be able to access the free, rapid lateral flow tests for themselves and their families to use twice a week starting this Friday.

It is hoped the data will help scientists track and trace any new variants of Coronavirus more effectively because more people getting a test will increase the ability to identify and control mutations of the deadly virus. "Massive efforts have been made by the British public to stop the spread of the virus. As we continue to make good progress on our vaccine programme and with our roadmap to cautiously easing restrictions underway, regular rapid testing is even more important to make sure those efforts are not wasted," said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"That's why we're now rolling out free rapid tests to everyone across England, helping us to stop outbreaks in their tracks, so we can get back to seeing the people we love and doing the things we enjoy," he said. Rapid testing has so far been available to those most at risk and people who need to leave home for work, including frontline National Health Service (NHS) workers, care home staff and residents, and schoolchildren and their families. Now rapid testing will be offered to everyone, with people encouraged to take regular tests.

"The vaccine programme has been a shot in the arm for the whole country, but reclaiming our lost freedoms and getting back to normal hinges on us all getting tested regularly," said UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Johnson to unveil traffic light system for travel

United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to unveil a new traffic light system for international travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic after May 17. Johnson, who is expected to speak on Monday evening, will announce a red, amber and green system for residents in England who want to go on holiday abroad, reports dpa news agency.

Keep calm over delayed vaccine rollout: Aus min

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton has called for calm over the delayed rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Dutton, one of the most senior ministers in the federal government, said that Australia was not in the same "mad panic" as other countries to inoculate the population against COVID-19, reports Xinhua news agency.

Bangladesh announces week-long lockdown

Bangladesh on Monday clamped a week-long nationwide lockdown, suspending public transport and shutting markets to combat the surge in Coronavirus cases in the country, amidst demonstrations by small business owners against the move. According to a government circular issued on Sunday, the directives will remain in effect from 6 am of April 5 till 12 midnight of April 11, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

5,10,365
No. of new cases reported globally in the past 24 hours

13,14,19,173
Total no. of cases worldwide

28,54,727
Total no. of deaths worldwide

Source: WHO/Johns Hopkins

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