Universal weekly testing as the UK COVID-19 lockdown exit strategy

The British public have been offered alternating periods of lockdown and relaxation of restrictions as part of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown exit strategy.1 Extended periods of lockdown will increase economic and social damage, and each relaxation will almost certainly trigger a further epidemic wave of deaths. There is an alternative strategy: universal repeated testing.2 We recommend evaluation of weekly severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigen testing of the whole population in an entire city as a demonstration site (preferably several towns and cities, if possible), with strict household quarantine after a positive test. PCR reagents should be obtained from manufacturers, rather than clinical test companies, and exempt from regulatory requirements on medical testing to limit costs and ensure supplies.