Covid-19 is currently circulating in the UK at a ‘medium but increasing’ level
The latest surveillance data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revealed that Covid prevalence is at a medium but rising level throughout the country. The most common variants in the UK currently are various XFG and NB lineages – two of the most dominant being Stratus (XFG) and Nimbus (NB.1.8. 1).
Those who contract the Stratus variant are likely to experience symptoms including a persistent dry cough, hoarse or raspy voice, fatigue, headaches, congestion, sore throat, and digestive issues. Symptoms of the Nimbus variant include “razor blade” sore throat, digestive problems, general fatigue, a mild cough, muscle aches, and a fever.
Now considered an endemic respiratory virus, the focus is on vaccinating at-risk populations against Covid and staying home to avoid spreading the virus if you’re feeling unwell. You can find out if you have Covid for sure by doing a Covid rapid lateral flow test.
These rapid lateral flow tests are no longer free from the NHS for most people. You’ll instead need to buy the test yourself from certain pharmacies or retailers, reports the Mirror.
However, certain people are eligible for a free Covid test, according to the NHS. You may be able to get one for free if you’re eligible for Covid treatment because you’re at the highest risk of getting seriously ill from Covid.
Who is eligible for a free test?
Below is the full list of the 12 groups of people included in this ‘highest risk’ list:
- have Down’s syndrome, or another chromosomal condition that affects your immune system
- have certain types of cancer, or had treatment for certain types of cancer
- have sickle cell disease
- have certain conditions affecting your blood, including some types of blood cancer
- have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5, including people on dialysis
- have severe liver disease
- have had an organ transplant
- have certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease
- have HIV or AIDS and have a weakened immune system
- have a condition affecting your immune system
- have a condition affecting the brain or nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, motor neurone disease, myasthenia gravis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or certain types of dementia
- have certain lung conditions or treatments for lung conditions
The NHS has stated: “This list is a summary and does not cover everything. If you’re unsure if you are eligible, speak to your GP or hospital specialist who can advise you.”
How to get a free Covid test
If you’re eligible for Covid treatments because you’re at highest risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid, you can get free Covid rapid lateral flow tests from a pharmacy. You’ll need to provide the pharmacy with your:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- medical condition
If you’ve received a letter or email from the NHS about Covid treatments, you should present this at the pharmacy to confirm your eligibility. If someone else is collecting Covid rapid lateral flow tests on your behalf, they will also need to provide their name and address.
What to do if your Covid rapid lateral flow test result is positive
Covid rapid lateral flow tests display the result on the testing device within a few minutes. A positive result indicates that you likely have Covid.
Try to stay home and avoid meeting people for:
- Three days after the day the test was taken if you’re under 18 years – children and young people tend to be infectious for less time than adults
- Five days after the day you took your test if you’re aged 18 or over
Try to wait 10 days after the day you took your test before meeting anyone who is more susceptible to serious illness from viruses, such as someone with a weakened immune system. If you test positive and you’re eligible for Covid treatments, contact your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible.
What it means if your Covid rapid lateral flow test result is negative
If you receive a negative result, it suggests that you probably don’t have Covid. However, there’s still a possibility you could be infected, so it’s crucial to adhere to the guidelines on preventing the spread and contraction of Covid.
Should you test negative but are eligible for Covid treatments, you’re required to carry out three rapid lateral flow tests over three consecutive days (one test per day) if your symptoms persist.
In case your test result is unreadable, it’s impossible to determine whether you had Covid at the time of testing. Some tests may refer to this as a void result. In such instances, it’s recommended to take another test as soon as possible.
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