Coronavirus test providers are ‘at risk of collapse’ when holidays abroad eventually resume the UK, a consumer group has warned.
Which? says that a number of testing firms, that have been approved by the UK Government, are being overwhelmed with travellers requiring Covid tests - despite international travel currently being banned.
The companies have received a number of complaints over social media about test results not arriving back on time.
Currently, anyone travelling into Scotland for an essential reason must take two tests on the second and eighth day of their 10-day stay inside managed accommodation. Similar rules are in place for testing south of the border.
Results from these tests must be received before a passenger can leave their chosen accommodation.
Which? says that some passengers haven’t received their day two results until day 20. Others say that they have had police at their door asking why they have not been tested.
There are now fears that the testing system could ‘buckle’ when international travel resumes in the UK.
Which? Travel editor Rory Boland said: “The UK’s travel testing system can’t cope with demand, even when relatively small numbers of people are travelling.
“It’s clear the system could buckle under the pressure when mass international travel restarts and hundreds of thousands more people are reliant on it.
“Travellers shouldn’t have to shop around for something as crucial as a test provider – they simply need a service that is accessible, reliable, and delivered on time.
“It is critical that the government addresses issues with testing ahead of restarting international travel, and ensure that travellers are not left to the mercy of poor quality providers or unreliable services when trying to do the right thing in following government requirements to travel safely.”
Major Scottish airports, such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, have been eerily quiet since rules on managed quarantine were introduced back in February this year.
The UK Government hopes that international travel may be able to resume as early as May 17.
However, Scottish Government officials have stayed cautious over the idea as fears over the potential importation of new variants of Covid continue.
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