British Prime Minister Boris Johnson provided an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.K. on Monday as England is set to make routine coronavirus tests available twice a week as a way to stamp out new outbreaks, following a months-long lockdown.

The government has said the free lateral flow tests would be available starting Friday by mail, from pharmacies and in workplaces. The lateral flow tests give results in minutes but are less accurate than the PCR swab tests used to officially confirm cases. Health Minister Edward Argar said the tests produced a false positive rate in less than one in every 1,000 tests and are reliable.

Johnson is also expected to announce the next steps in the coutnry's road map out of its lockdown, with him reportedly to confirm hairdressers, non-essential shops and pub and restaurant patios will reopen as planned in England on April 12. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are following slightly different timescales.

For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca/news/7738721/uk-covid-testing-lockdown/
Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc
Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ
Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt
Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB
#GlobalNews #UnitedKingdom #BorisJohnson