They thought it was all over

Not in Lincoln. "surge testing" and a sinister sounding "roving testing unit". Crazy. Just get the vaccines done and move on. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-58112875

They were doing mobile testing at Carlisle Airport (of all places) when I was there last year.

"Would you like to take a Covid test?  It's completely free of charge?"

 

No fook off - we've got a week in the Lake District and don't want to be confined to the hotel.  

 

Testing healthy asymptomatic people was never part of the UK's pandemic preparedness plan, neither was the forced closure of businesses or mandatory quarantines.  

Bozo shat the bed, decided to rip up years of planning and preparation, and just winged it.  

I think the testing of asymptomatic people has more to do with the fact billions has been spent on it (in an initial panic phase I agree) and instead of admitting they've wasted that money, they want to convince the public otherwise