Routine testing for Covid-19 is to be no longer be required in care homes from April under the government’s ‘living with Covid’ strategy.

Under the changes announced by the UK Health Security Agency, routine asymptomatic testing on admission will end for staff and residents in care homes, the majority of which has already been paused since August 2022.

Routine symptomatic testing of staff and residents in care settings will also end along with all PCR testing outside NHS settings.

LFD tests will continue to be used for staff with symptoms who work in hospices and all patients being discharged from hospitals into care settings, as well as during care home outbreaks.

Dame Jenny Harries, chief executive of UKHSA, said: “Fewer people now experience severe illness due to Covid-19, due to vaccinations, infection-related immunity and treatments for those who need them and the risk of hospitalisation has decreased overall. This means we are now able to further bring our testing programmes in line with management of other viral infections whilst still maintaining focus on those at highest risk to protect them from the virus.

“Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses haven’t gone away and simple actions, like washing your hands and staying at home and avoiding vulnerable people when unwell, can make a big difference. For those at highest risk of severe illness, the spring booster programme also provides an opportunity to keep immunity topped up.”

Health and social care secretary, Steve Barclay, added: “Testing was crucial to our response during the height of the pandemic, and our successful vaccination programme has protected the most vulnerable, saved thousands of lives, and has helped us all to live with Covid.

“Thankfully we are now able to scale back our testing programme while remaining committed to ensuring those at highest risk and more prone to severe illness get the protection they need.”