The UK government is working to replace the costly COVID-19 PCR tests for fully vaccinated international travelers by lateral flow tests by the school half-term holiday in October, a government junior minister said on Thursday
LONDON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd September, 2021) The UK government is working to replace the costly COVID-19 PCR tests for fully vaccinated international travelers by lateral flow tests by the school half-term holiday in October, a government junior minister said on Thursday.
"We've got to get the systems in place because we want to move to lateral flow tests to make it easier and cheaper for people to be able to enjoy those holidays at half-term," Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Paul Scully, told Sky news.
Last week, the government announced that from October 4, the current traffic light system that divides countries in red, amber and green categories based on their level of coronavirus prevalence will be scrapped, so any place which is not red-listed will be safe for travel.
People who have received the two recommended doses of the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer need a predeparture test before returning from non-red list destinations.
However, those coming from red list destinations will still have to quarantine in a government-supervised hotel at their own expenses and pay for the tests.
According to media reports, the government's decision to ease travel restrictions into the UK has sparked a half-term booking frenzy with demand for holidays soaring by 200% and airlines offering deals "far lower" than before the pandemic.
The one-week Autumn half-term holiday is scheduled for October 25-29.
