Routine Covid tests for hospital patients dropped next week after two years

Health chiefs say a drop in cases and deaths from the virus means wider asymptomatic testing may be halted on August 31

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Most people arriving at hospitals and care homes will not be tested for Covid unless they show symptoms from the end of the month, it has been announced.

Health chiefs say a drop in cases and deaths from the virus means broader asymptomatic testing may be halted on August 31.

But the move has sparked alarm among healthcare workers, who say the "terrible toll" of failed testing during the pandemic should not be forgotten.

The latest figures show there have been just over 40,000 confirmed cases in England over the past seven days, with 744 deaths within four weeks of testing positive.

The government has said it will continue to monitor data and asymptomatic testing may be reinstated if cases return.

Immunocompromised patients in hospitals and those admitted to nursing homes and hospices will continue to be tested, it has been confirmed.

People with symptoms of coronavirus will continue to be tested in NH S facilities, care homes, hospices and social services as well as prisons and domestic violence shelters.

Asymptomatic testing will end on August 31 in hospitals and care homes (

Picture:

AFP via Getty Images)

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: "Thanks to the success of our deployment of the world's leading vaccines, we are able to continue living with Covid and, from August 31, we will suspend routine asymptomatic testing in most high-risk settings. .

“This reflects the fact that case rates have dropped and the risk of transmission has diminished, although we will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with sectors to resume testing if necessary. . People admitted to care homes will continue to be tested."

The Royal College of Nursing started the movement. Director for England, Particia Marquis, said: "Nursing staff are all too aware of the terrible toll non-testing can have on some of their most vulnerable patients.