Everyone in England is set to be offered access to two rapid coronavirus tests a week from Friday in a bid to stop local outbreaks as things start to reopen.
The kits, which can feedback results in around 30 minutes, will be available from Friday, regardless of whether people have symptoms.
People will be able to get their hands on a test through a home ordering service, workplace or school testing programme, or by collecting one at a local test site.
Advert
The PM is set to explain that the scheme would help stop fresh outbreaks, enabling the authorities to identify and control new variants of the disease.
The announcement comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to meet senior ministers to sign off the next stage of the road map out of lockdown as well as going into detail about plans for a traffic light system for international travel.
Green countries would mean people could return to the UK with no restrictions. Amber destinations would most likely mean people having to quarantine at home, and red ones would require a formal, 10-day quarantine stay at a hotel.
Advert
This is something that has been welcomed by Andrew Flintham, managing director for Tui UK and Ireland. He told BBC Breakfast: "We are all trying to reopen the UK, the economy, and travel is an intrinsic part of that.
"So we are looking for some really clear guidelines so we welcome the traffic light system. We think it will give us some clear rules to work with and also it will make it obvious what data is driving what decisions."
Mr Flintham said the company was gearing up to restart and added: "All our teams are getting ready for restart, we believe and we hope the 17th [of May] will be possible.
"We think with the amazing vaccine programme and the greater provision of testing, we think we should be able to get going."
Advert
Mr Flintham went on to say that vaccine passports and testing were both ways of allowing people to travel.
The system could be used to prove people's status using an app but a paper certificate could also be used.
As well as being used for travel, it looks like vaccination passports will be a requirement for entry to large sporting and music events. Speaking earlier this morning on Good Morning Britain, health minister Edward Argar said: "A number of pilots are going to be run, Covid certification is one element that's being looked at."
Advert
He went on to add that other things are being looked at such as ventilation of venues, social distancing and how people behave.
The latest phase of lockdown lifting is set to see non-essential shops in England reopen from April 12. It also includes personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons; and indoor leisure facilities such as gyms will also reopen.
Most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas are also on the list. Alongside those, self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen.
Advert
Most importantly for many, hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors at Step 2 and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: covid, UK News, News, UK