Pre-departure tests are to be scrapped for UK travellers by the end of week despite the sharp rise in omicron cases.
Boris Johnson announced the news today (January 5) for holidaymakers and confirmed that as of 4am on Friday (January 7) travellers will instead be able to take a lateral flow test on day two once they arrive back home.
If it's positive, the individual must take a PCR test and isolate as per the current guidelines as this will help to reduce the spread of covid as well as identify new variants.
Although the current easing of restrictions currently only applies to England, it is likely that the governments in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will follow suit.
Commenting on the travel update, Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps took to Twitter and explained: "We're removing the temporary extra testing measures we introduced last year at the border to slow cases of omicron coming to the UK. Now omicron is the dominant variant and is widespread in the UK, these measures are no longer proportionate.
"Fully vaccinated passengers and under 18s will no longer need to take a pre-departure test before returning if arriving after 4am on January 7."
In addition, fully vaccinated passengers and those under 18 will also no longer need to self-isolate whilst waiting for post-arrival results if arriving after 4am on January 7.
He continued: "After arrival, all fully vaccinated people and under 18s will now only need to take a lateral flow test (instead of a PCR) if they arrive after 4am January 9.
"Free NHS lateral flow tests cannot be used for international travel, to protect NHS capacity. If your post-arrival lateral flow test comes out positive, you must self-isolate & take a free NHS PCR test to confirm the result.
"By reducing testing requirements for fully vaccinated passengers to just a lateral flow post-arrival, we're supporting the safe reopening of international travel. We'll do a full review of travel measures by the end of Jan to ensure a stable system is in place for 2022."
How to order lateral flow tests in Scotland
- Order online here for home delivery. A box of seven lateral flow test will arrive within 24-48 hours. Additional booking slots are added throughout the day.
- Collect them at over 1,000 Community Pharmacies. People will be able to collect one pack of seven lateral flow tests. Pharmacies can receive a box of around 60 packs of lateral flow tests each day.
- Collect them at over 60 Testing Sites. People will be able to collect one pack of seven lateral flow tests from any regional or local test site in Scotland.
- Collect them at other points established by Local Authorities. Follow this link to find information on additional local sites in your community.
- From where they learn or where they work if in education, health and social care or any workplace with more than 10 employees which have signed up for our workplace testing programme.
