PCRs scrapped for arrivals in UK tomorrow in travel overhaul
PCR tests will be axed for people arriving in the UK from tomorrow in a Covid testing rules overhaul.
The changes, applying to those who have had two jabs, will make families’ winter holidays cheaper.
Boris Johnson had imposed tougher testing requirements on travellers when Omicron emerged in November as he battled to halt the spread of the variant.
But ministers agreed to axe these curbs and revert to previous rules after the Government’s Covid-O committee met yesterday.
The PM said that the requirement for pre-departure tests for those arriving in the UK would be axed from 4am on Friday.
And ‘day two’ PCR tests after arrival in the UK will be replaced with a cheaper lateral flow test.
The requirement to self isolate until a result has been received has also been scrapped.
TRAPPED
In a Commons statement, Mr Johnson said: “When the Omicron variant was identified we rightly introduced travel restrictions to slow its arrival in our country.
“Now Omicron is so prevalent these measures have a limited impact on the growth in cases while continuing to pose significant cost to our travel industry.
“From 4am on Friday, we will be scrapping the pre-departure test, which discourages many from travelling for fear of being trapped overseas and incurring significant extra expenses.
“We will also be lifting the requirement to self-isolate on arrival until receiving a negative PCR, returning instead to the system we had in October last year where those arriving in England will need to take a lateral flow test no later than the end of day two and, if positive, a further PCR test.”
The new rules apply to the fully vaccinated while those for the unvaccinated remain the same.
People who have not had both jabs must still take a pre-departure test, self isolate for 10 days and take PCR tests on days two and eight after returning to the UK.