Eligible fully vaccinated passengers arriving in England from
countries not on the UK’s red list can take a cheaper lateral
flow test instead of a PCR from today [Sunday 24 October].
Lateral flow tests must be taken as soon as possible on the day
of arrival in England or at the latest before the end of a
passenger’s second day and can now be purchased from the list of
private providers on GOV.UK from as little
as £22 – significantly cheaper than PCR tests.
Lateral flow tests for international travel must be purchased
from a private provider as NHS Test and Trace lateral flow tests
cannot be used for international travel. Passengers who have
already bought a PCR to use for travel do not need to buy another
test as PCRs can still be used.
Passengers must take a photo of their lateral flow test and
booking reference supplied by the private provider and send it
back to them to verify the result. Passengers are also able to
book a test which they can take on their arrival into England at
testing centres located in some airports. People using PCR tests
for travel will have their test reported by the company they
purchase the test from.
Anyone testing positive will need to isolate
and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the
traveller, which can be genomically sequenced to help identify
new variants. PCR tests can be accessed free
of charge by ordering in the usual way through NHS Test and Trace
– via nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. Test providers
will be expected to advise people to self-isolate and direct
people towards the NHS Test and Trace booking page.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“I'm delighted that from today eligible travellers to
England, who've had the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine
can benefit from a cheaper lateral flow test, providing
faster results.
“This huge boost to the travel industry and the public will make
it easier and cheaper for people to book holidays and travel
abroad, and it is it is because of our incredible vaccine
programme that this is possible. Anyone who tests positive must
take a PCR test, which, if positive, may be genomically sequenced
to check for variants and further help us fight this virus.”
Transport Secretary , said:
“The change in rules for post-arrival tests will give passengers
more options and faster results, just in time for many half-term
holidays.
“It’s thanks to the success of our vaccination programme that we
can make this switch – giving the industry and consumers a
much-needed boost.”
Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health
Security Agency (UKHSA), said:
“Testing and self-isolating if you are positive remain
crucial steps to managing the pandemic and stopping the spread of
COVID-19 in the community.
“It is also critical that those who have positive Lateral Flow
Tests when returning to England go on to get this checked through
a NHS Test & Trace PCR. This way we can continue to monitor
new variants and stay on top of the virus.
“Regular hand-washing, wearing face coverings in crowded spaces –
including on transport – ventilating spaces and getting
vaccinated are simple actions all of us can take to protect
ourselves and those around us when we travel.”
All travellers must complete their passenger locator form prior
to travel, including providing a test booking reference number
supplied by a testing provider.
Anyone travelling on to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland,
Wales, the Channel Island or the Isle of Man in the ten days
after arrival in England, must follow the rules for testing
and quarantine in those places.
Passengers who are not fully vaccinated with an authorised
vaccine returning from a non-red destination must still take a
pre-departure test (antigen / PCR), a PCR test on day 2 and day 8
test and complete 10 days self-isolation (with the option of
doing Test to Release on day 5).
The vaccine programme is building a wall of defence across the
country and the booster vaccine rollout is now well underway with
more than 4 million people vaccinated. It is vital that eligible
people get their booster jab and their flu jab to protect
themselves, their loved ones and the NHS this winter.
