Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP urges government not to close Covid defences

An MP has urged the Government not to stop testing for Covid.

Streatham’s Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP has written to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, accusing the Government of “closing our eyes to Covid.”

She has urged the Government to keep free PCR and lateral flow tests in place, along with the Lamp testing scheme.

It comes as the Prime Minister looks set to announce the end of all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England.

Last week, it was widely reported that the Treasury has been pushing for an end to free testing as part of a cost-cutting exercise.

A leaked letter from the UK Health Security Agency also revealed that the Government will be winding down its Lamp testing scheme, prompting fears from scientists and health leaders that the UK’s variant monitoring will be undermined.

Ms Ribeiro-Addy said: “With the ever-present danger of new variants emerging, switching off our defence systems against Covid this early would be complacent and short-sighted.

“As the early stages of the pandemic showed all too clearly, failing to have the right systems in place may well end up costing us more than it saves.

“The Government should keep free PCR and lateral flow tests and keep our current testing infrastructure in place, as the overwhelming majority of health leaders and scientists are advocating.”

Main picture: Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP at Baldry Gardens