Travel testing for under-11s ‘illogical and unnecessary’

MINISTERS have been urged to ditch Covid travel tests for under-11s which no other countries impose on children.

England is the only country in Europe to require under-11s to be tested on their return to the UK and to exempt only those who are aged four or under.

It can add nearly £150 to the cost of a holiday for a family of four, but public health experts and children groups say it is unnecessary when Covid infection rates among returning travellers are lower even than those in the UK.

Allyson Pollock, professor of public health at Newcastle University, said: “Testing young children is illogical and unnecessary. If your background rates are low in the population, then there is no logic to testing in any case. If you have high vaccination rates, why are you doing this?”

The call comes as the Government prepares to replace PCR tests with LFTS for travellers entering the UK from the end of October. But under 11s in England will still be required to take them.