Boris Johnson should not not to “force the hand” of the Scottish Government by ending free coronavirus testing across the UK at the end of February Humza Yousaf has warned.
The Scottish Health Secretary said funding for free tests should be continued in Scotland even if the UK Government decides to end all restrictions and the requirement to test in England.
It comes after Boris Johnson told MPs he is looking to end the requirement to self-isolate after a positive test by the end of February, a month earlier than scheduled.
Under this scenario, Yousaf said the Scottish Government could have to set up its own procurement for tests and potentially find the money from elsewhere.
Yousaf said he is concerned that he has not seen the public health advice around the Prime Minister’s announcement.
The Health Secretary said: “This is the central argument we’ve been trying to make with the UK Government since the announcement on Wednesday – which is, you have every right to make decisions for people in England, but what they can’t do and shouldn’t do is then force our hand when it comes to our response.”
He continued: “I don’t know the detail of what the UK Government’s going to announce, but if they are going to, for example, withdraw the universal offer for testing – which I don’t think they should do at the end of February – if they do that, then of course tests, as you know, are procured on a four-nations basis.
“And that could effectively force our hand to respond in a way we don’t want to do at this immediate time.”
Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday Show, Yousaf said the UK’s four chief medical officers have been working together to discuss the removal of restrictions.
Yousaf was also asked about waiting times in the Scottish NHS and when they will start to come down.
His counterpart in the UK Government, Sajid Javid, has admitted that the number of people waiting will continue to rise for another two years.
He said: “I commend Sajid Javid for his honesty, because that’s absolutely right.
“It isn’t going to be a case that I can promise you waiting less for be abolished or finished and we’ll work our way through them completely within a few months or even a year.”
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