FREE Covid tests could be ditched to save the UK taxpayer billions of pounds.

       Talks are reportedly underway in the Government to cut back the universal lateral flow test and who gets free PCR tests.

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       Free Covid tests could be scrapped as the cash-strapped Treasury tries to save money Credit: Alamy

       Although universal tests are set to be stopped, free tests will be available in places like care homes, hospitals and schools.

       The UK has done many more tests than other countries, with some experts suggesting this is why Britain's virus rates appear so high.

       One said the test costs the same as 1p on income tax, and there are fears taxes would have to rise were the scheme to gone on.

       A Whitehall source told the Daily Telegraph: “It’s agreed that universal access isn’t sustainable or necessary given high vaccination levels.

       “We now need to decide what the parameters should be that reasonably qualify access to free testing.”

       It comes as the Government said yesterday a further 127 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of Friday, bringing the UK total to 137,541.

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       Separate figures published by the Office for National Statistics show there have been 161,000 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate.

       As of 9am on Friday, there had been a further 36,060 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases in the UK, the Government said.

       Covid cases above 30,000 for 19th day in a row as another 36,060 test positive and 127 more people die

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