![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/infection-expert-calls-for-return-of-free-covid-tests/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/131049499_mouth.jpg&description=Media caption, Prof Rowland Kao says the government should make the tests free again. An infection expert has called for lateral flow tests to become free again as a new Covid variant spreads. Unofficially called "Pirola", the new BA.2.86 variant is a mutated version of Omicron, which triggered a surge in cases in late 2021 and early 2022. Prof Rowland Kao from the University of Edinburgh said it was important to track the spread and some people might not be able to afford the tests. Public Health Scotland has found increased Covid traces in wastewater. The BA.2.86 strain has already been found in several countries including Canada, Israel and the US. However, it is difficult to determine how much the increase in Covid is due to the new variant. Testing for the virus has been scaled back across the globe and scientists say they do not have clear information about how rapidly it is spreading. Previously, UK citizens could order packs of free lateral flow tests online from the government. Public Health Scotland (PHS), the NHS body responsible for monitoring and managing the coronavirus, says the accuracy of wastewater testing is variable and results should be treated with caution. Prof Kao told BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show : "It is a very new situation. "The important thing to remember is that Covid still has the capacity to surprise - we're not in any kind of settled pattern. "We have signals that are telling us, even without any new variants, that Covid might be getting worse. "We have this variant which is quite different from the things that have happened before." Image source, Getty Images He said that, so far, there was no evidence to suggest that the new variant was more harmful than previous variants. However, the number of Covid cases in Scotland has been increasing since the beginning of July. The exact number of cases is difficult to track as there is little testing in the wider community. "If you can, get a lateral flow test, and I would like to see late){kind=link}
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Prof Rowland Kao says the government should make the tests free again.
An infection expert has called for lateral flow tests to become free again as a new Covid variant spreads.
Unofficially called “Pirola”, the new BA.2.86 variant is a mutated version of Omicron, which triggered a surge in cases in late 2021 and early 2022.
Prof Rowland Kao from the University of Edinburgh said it was important to track the spread and some people might not be able to afford the tests.