The Welsh Government does not "currently have any intentions" to restrict access to lateral flow testing.

In a comment to The National this afternoon, the government said its focus was "ensuring we have an effective testing regime to break chains of transmission."

The remarks came following reports that the Westminster government would soon cut off access to free lateral flow testing in England, with the NHS Track and Trace programme also being scaled back.

UK education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has since denied the rumour.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "Our current focus with the spread of the omicron variant is ensuring we have an effective testing regime to break chains of transmission and reduce the spread of the virus.

“We continually adapt our testing system in response to how Covid-19 is impacting our communities to reflect balance of harms.

"Any changes need detailed consideration and assessment on impact especially for the more vulnerable.

“We do not currently have any intentions to move to a system where we would restrict access to lateral flow tests.”

Western Telegraph: Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi denied reports that free lateral flow testing is ending this afternoon. (Picture source: PA Wire)Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi denied reports that free lateral flow testing is ending this afternoon. (Picture source: PA Wire)

A report in The Sunday Times this morning alleged that the UK government would announce an end to free lateral flow testing within weeks, with free tests available only to "high-risk" settings such as carehomes, hospitals and schools.

An anonymous "senior Whitehall source" told the newspaper:"I don’t think we are in a world where we can continue to hand out free lateral flow tests to everybody for evermore.

"It’s likely we will move to a scenario where there is less testing but where we have a capacity to ramp it up if necessary."

READ MORE: Are the 'creeping tentacles' of the UK government threatening Welsh democracy?

The Cabinet minister said he is “puzzled” by a report suggesting that their universal availability could be axed as they are limited to high-risk settings and for people with symptoms.

Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell had called the news "an effort in collective gaslighting", and said that the move "would be akin to saying that the vulnerable don't matter."

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, had warned the move would be “utterly wrongheaded”, while UK Labour said it would be the “wrong decision at the wrong time”.

 

But education secretary Nadhim Zahawi told Sky’s Trevor Phillips this afternoon: “I saw that story this morning, which I was slightly puzzled by because I don’t recognise it at all. This is absolutely not where we are at.

“For January alone 425 million lateral flow tests (are) coming in and they will continue to be available for free.

“I don’t really recognise where that story is coming from.”

Asked whether there are plans to stop lateral flow tests being free, he said: “Absolutely not.”

Western Telegraph: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced criticism after claiming that England can "ride out" Omicron, and mocking Welsh Covid measures. (Picture source: PA Wire)UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has faced criticism after claiming that England can "ride out" Omicron, and mocking Welsh Covid measures. (Picture source: PA Wire)

Mr Zahawi also told The Sunday Times that he would support the isolation period being reduced from seven days to five .

He said: “The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have said they want to review it, so we will stick to seven days but if they review it and say they will bring it down to five days that is even better for me, it’s even more helpful.”

Mr Zahawi also told the paper he believes the UK is “witnessing the transition of the virus from pandemic to endemic”.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced backlash recently after commenting that England could "ride out" the Omicron wave without further restrictions - labelling Welsh Covid regulations "baroque eccentricities".

In response, First Minister Mark Drakeford called England a "global outlier" in its refusal to implement restrictions, adding: "In England we have a government that is politically paralysed.”

Additional reporting by Joshua Searle.

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