Pub-goers will be told to book a test immediately if they sit near Covid drinker in pub

PUB-GOERS will be told to book a test immediately if they sit near a Covid-positive drinker in a pub.

New rules mean that every single person must be contact-traced at pubs, bars, and restaurants when outdoor hospitality opens on April 12.

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And if punters have been around someone who later tests positive, they will be pinged and told to book a test immediately.

People will be alerted via the app - regardless of whether they have Covid symptoms or not.

This comes as new rules mean EVERY pub-goer must check-in with the NHS Covid app to get a pint from April 12 - not just the lead member.

Previously when hospitality reopened in 2020, only one person in the group needed to provide contact details to check in.

But the Government rules now state: "To coincide with the offer of free rapid testing for everyone, there will be updates to the NHS COVID-19 app in England from 8 April.

"If an app user tests positive, they will be asked to share their venue history in a privacy-protecting way via the app.

"This will allow venue alerts to be generated more quickly, and improve the ability to identify where outbreaks are occurring and take steps to prevent the virus spreading.

NEW APP RULES

"If a person has been at a venue on the same day as several other people who have since tested positive for COVID-19, they may receive an alert advising them to book a test immediately, whether they are showing symptoms or not.

"This is to support finding asymptomatic cases who may have caught the virus but are not displaying symptoms.";

Each punter must scan their app - in line with the new offer of free rapid testing for everyone.

From April 9, twice-weekly free rapid Covid tests will be available to everyone in England - in a huge boost to our freedom.

People will be able to collect or order batches of their free Covid tests - which provide results in just minutes - whether they have symptoms or not.

So far the rapid kits have been mainly aimed at office staff and those who have to leave their homes to work, alongside the NHS and schools.

But everyone will soon be able to order kits at home, get them through their workplaces, at schools, or via the network of testing centres which has been set up across the country.

A pharmacy collect service will also be launched. The kits will be available from Friday onwards with a fresh marketing campaign urging people to take part.

Mr Johnson will vow at tonight’s press conference that the plan will help the country unlock and give people the confidence to get out and about again.

APP AND AWAY

He promised the kits would “stop outbreaks in their tracks, so we can get back to seeing the people we love and doing the things we enjoy”.

The PM said: "Massive efforts have been made by the British public to stop the spread of the virus.

"As we continue to make good progress on our vaccine programme and with our roadmap to cautiously easing restrictions underway, regular rapid testing is even more important to make sure those efforts are not wasted.

"That’s why we’re now rolling out free rapid tests to everyone across England – helping us to stop outbreaks in their tracks, so we can get back to seeing the people we love and doing the things we enjoy."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said today: “Around one in three people who have COVID-19 show no symptoms, and as we reopen society and resume parts of life we have all dearly missed, regular rapid testing is going to be fundamental in helping us quickly spot positive cases and squash any outbreaks.

"The vaccine programme has been a shot in the arm for the whole country, but reclaiming our lost freedoms and getting back to normal hinges on us all getting tested regularly.

"The British public have shown over the last year that they quickly adapt and always do what it is right in the interest of public health, and I know they will do their bit by getting tested regularly in the months ahead."