Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said ministers hope to announce in the coming days the switch for eligible fully-vaccinated arrivals to be able to use a lateral flow test for their day-two test, rather than the more expensive PCR version.
The Government previously said its “ambition” was for this to be in place “for people returning from half-term breaks by the end of the month”.
Mr Shapps told Sky News on Friday: “We want to get this done for half term for people.”
He added: “We anticipate having it ready for the half term, and what a difference it will make for people.”
He said the process with lateral flows rather than PCR tests will be “much much easier, much less expensive as well”.
Asked when an announcement can be expected, he said: “In the coming days”.
Mr Shapps said he does not have a specific date in November yet for the US to fully reopen to visitors from the UK.
The Transport Secretary said he had spoken with the US ambassador in recent days.
He told Sky News: “They (the US) are still working through the technicalities of that. They’ve said November to us and obviously we’re working very closely with them because we would like to see that done so families can reunite, businesses can get together and people can go travelling again.
“So we think it’s certainly well due. We’re allowing Americans here, we’re recognising their vaccines.”
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