Twice-weekly rapid Covid tests available to everyone from today: what you need to know EVERYONE in England will be able to access free rapid Covid-19 tests from Friday, April 9. Anyone will be able to access the lateral flow tests (LFDs) for themselves and their families to use twice a week. The government said alongside the vaccine rollout, regular testing is “at the heart of plans to reopen society and the economy, helping to suppress and control the spread of variants.” Here’s what you need to know. What is rapid testing? A rapid lateral flow test is a coronavirus test you do yourself. It shows you the result on a handheld device that comes with the test.