England will offer everyone 2 free quick coronavirus tests each week

LONDON – Everyone in England will be able to receive two free Covid tests each week as the UK government redoubles its efforts to reopen the economy.

Test results are given in about 30 minutes. People living in England will be able to apply for the tests online or pick them up locally, the government announced Monday. The scheme, which will begin on Friday, comes as the country prepares to reopen shops and pubs in less than ten days. Most have been closed since the end of 2020.

“This is a very important step forward, another step that will help us, with the removal of these restrictions, to restore normal life in this country,” British Health Secretary Edward Argar told Sky News on Monday.

England has been in lockdown mode since late December, but for a week people have been allowed to gather in groups of up to six people. At least three more reference dates will arrive before all legal limits on social contact are removed, hopefully by the end of June.

However, the plan for the full reopening of the economy will depend on the evolution of the pandemic, as well as the country’s vaccination program.

To date, more than 31 million people in the UK have received their first dose. More than 5 million people have received their second vaccine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will have to speak on Monday at 5pm, British time, and outline plans for international travel rules.

For now, international travel is restricted until May 17. Reports suggest that once you are allowed to travel abroad, quarantine rules will depend on a “traffic light system”; they isolate on returning to the UK

However, pre- and post-arrival tests are likely to remain in place, even when proceeding from a destination considered low-risk.

The prime minister is also expected to mention coronavirus passports, documents that indicate whether a person has been vaccinated, recently tested negative for coronavirus, or has natural immunity.