Boots pharmacy has started selling lateral flow tests ahead of the rule change on 1st April.
Shoppers are shocked at the move, which will see the chemist selling the antigen tests from Wednesday, despite them still being free to order from the NHS online.
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From today (Wednesday 23rd February) the tests will be available at Boots for £5.99 for a single swab, and £17 for a pack of four.
By the time the free tests end at the end of March, however, the price at Boots will be brought down to £2.50, alongside a bundle of two tests priced at £4.75 and four tests at £9.50.
It comes after prime minister Boris Johnson announced this week that free testing would come to an end, after costing more than £2 billion in January alone.
While free testing for the general public is set to end on 1st April, tests should still be available for symptomatic elderly and vulnerable people.
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Asif Aziz, director of healthcare services at Boots UK, said: "We are pleased to be expanding our Covid-19 testing services even further, with affordable lateral flow testing options for those who still want peace of mind from asymptomatic testing after 1 April.
“While it is great that we are returning to normal and finding a way to live with Covid-19, we encourage our customers and patients to stay safe and continue to take measures to limit the spread of the virus, especially to those in vulnerable groups.”
The pharmacy giant has also said the launch of their paid-for tests has been introduced early to prepare both supply chains and customers.
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And people are not happy with the price of the tests, with one person writing on Twitter: "A single covid test will cost £5.99. Imagine that cost twice a week. For six carers. For years. Boris Johnson is throwing disabled people to the wolves."
While another said: "I won't be buying it and I'm sorry if unknowingly spreading it, blame it on the government and not me."
And a third added: "Sadly this simply means the majority of people won’t bother testing. The couldn’t be free indefinitely but I do wonder how much they cost to make and what the profit margins are."
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Many pointed out that some other countries have placed a cap on the tests, for example Spain which has a cap of £2.45.
Tyla has reached out to Boots for comment.
Lucy Devine