THE health secretary has told a Dorset MP that rapid Covid tests could be available in January to make self-isolating unnecessary for many people.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax  said he did not support lockdowns, “tiered or otherwise”, but said it was important to get quick test results.

Boris Johnson announce post-lockdown Covid rules for England

His question came as health secretary Matt Hancock was standing in for Boris Johnson, who is self-isolating because of contact with an infected MP and was cut off from the Commons chamber by a technical hitch.

Mr Drax said: “As my right honourable friend knows, I do not support lockdowns, tiered or otherwise, but I welcome the move to get these vaccines and it’s very, very good news. As I understand it, the main weapon the government has is test and trace.

“Can I suggest that ‘test and quick result’ is equally important? When will the government be able to say the whole country can be tested and get a quick result so when it’s negative we can all get on with our lives?”

Mr Hancock said he hoped rapid testing would allow people to test daily “if they have been in close contact as the prime minister has done with somebody who’s tested positive”, doing away with the need to self-isolate for long periods.

He added: “As the prime minister has set out, we’re piloting it this week and then we’ll roll it out in December and I hope it will be available nationwide in January.”