Pre-departure coronavirus tests for travellers and Scots entering the UK could be scrapped from today.
UK Government ministers will hold a meeting about relaxing the rules for holidaymakers with a final decision expected late on Wednesday, according to the Mirror.
If changes are made in England then it is expected Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will follow in order to give travellers simplicity in messaging.
Professor Linda Bauld, the Scottish Government 's Interim Chief Social Policy Adviser, revealed that pre-departure test rules are currently being looked at in Scotland.
The requirement for people to take a coronavirus test just before boarding a flight or ferry to Scotland was dropped for fully vaccinated people in October, however it was reintroduced when the Omicron variant hit the country.
It's believed ministers want to axe the test rule as the new strain is the dominant in the country and tests will do little to keep it out.
Speaking in a person capacity Prof Bauld said some tests need to be retained, she added: "I think it does need to be looked at.
"I mean my own experience, and this just anecdotally, it is a big burden on the traveller and it is really very expensive.
"I would question whether we need every single test, I think we still need some of the tests.
"One of the things that has been looked at is the one you have to take a couple of days before you leave your place that you visited before you come back to the UK.
"I think one of the things we need to retain is testing on arrival, because then we can pick up people who are bringing a virus into the country.
"Whether we need it just before you travel when you can then get infected when you're travelling. I think it's something people are closely looking at."
It comes as the travel industry called on the UK Government to remove all testing requirements for international travellers.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) and Airlines UK said research they commissioned into travel restrictions found domestic, not international, restrictions would be the only way to reduce the spread of Omicron.
MAG chief executive Charlie Cornish and Airlines UK boss Tim Alderslade released a joint statement yesterday saying the requirements could be removed.
The pair wrote: "The Health Secretary rightly acknowledged as early as 8 December that the value of any form of restrictions was significantly reduced once Omicron became dominant in the UK.
"This latest research by Oxera and Edge Health clearly supports the position that travel testing requirements can be removed in full without impacting overall case rates and hospitalisations in the UK.
"It should give the UK Government confidence to press ahead with the immediate removal of these emergency restrictions, giving people back the freedom to travel internationally to see loved ones, explore new places and generate new business opportunities."
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