Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to (a) control the numbers of covid-19 cases, (b) protect people vulnerable to covid-19, (c) support people shielding and (d) ensure that people of all incomes are able to access lateral flow tests in winter 2022.

‘COVID-19 Response: Living with COVID-19’, published in February, set out how COVID-19 will be managed in the same way as other respiratory viruses. The vaccination and booster programme and the availability of antiviral treatments has ensured a much lower risk of severe illness or hospitalisation.

We have continued to provide free symptomatic testing to those at highest risk and symptomatic testing during periods of high prevalence. The shielding scheme ended in 2021 and our guidance advises those previously considered as clinically extremely vulnerable to manage their risk as appropriate. Free lateral flow device tests are provided to those at greatest risk of serious illness from COVID-19, while testing kits are also available from retailers.