A Liverpool private testing firm says it's expecting a huge rise in demand after the Government cut the quarantine period for those arriving in England from 14 to five days - if they pay for a test.
Lab firm BioGrad described the Department for Transport's decision to allow people to cut their quarantine if they pay for a private test as "amazing news".
Tests with the firm cost around £100, with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps saying Tuesday's announcement will mean "bolstering international travel while keeping the public safe".
Dr Natalie Kenny, director of Liverpool City Region-based BioGrad said: “The Department of Transport’s news that quarantine can be cut from 14 days to five with a private test is amazing news for the industry.
"It will help society resume at a speedier rate and hopefully get more people back into work as soon as possible.
“BioGrad is pioneering the way in the global fight against Covid-19, providing a responsive and dynamic antigen and antibody testing facility.
"Our face-to-face testing is carried out by trained professionals, while home tests are tested for human genetic material when they return to the lab, meaning that they are not only accurate but also safe for travellers, with it impossible for those paying for a test to ‘fake a negative’ with us."
Dr Kenny said she expects demand for the private tests to be "high", adding: "Thankfully after a year of growth for our company, we have ample equipment and manpower to carry out thousands of tests per day.
“We welcome this news and after a torrid year for the travel and tourism sectors, a reduction in quarantine will give the public something to look forward to and ensure some form of normality returns sooner rather than later.”
