change to isolation and testing rules in England

Follow-up PCR tests will be axed throughout the UK for people who get Covid with no symptoms.

The UK Health Security Agency has agreed a change in policy for millions of people who test positive for the virus by lateral flow.

The change will take effect from January 11 in England, and from tomorrow in Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland's rules will similarly change.

Currently, anyone who tests positive using a lateral flow test (LFT) has to get a follow-up PCR test to confirm their result.

After the rule change, people who test positive with no symptoms - said to account for around 40% of people with Covid - will no longer need this follow-up PCR test.

They will still have to isolate for at least seven days, but only from the date of their positive lateral flow test.

The change - last performed in January-March 2021 - will effectively cut the isolation time because it takes a couple of days to get and await the result of a PCR test. This could ease crippling staff shortages including in the NHS.

It will also ease the demand for PCR tests after people struggled to get appointments in the Omicron wave.

People with Covid symptoms will still be told to get a PCR test, regardless of their lateral flow result.

Today’s change was confirmed for England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland would announce any changes in their testing regime separately.

The change announced today is only temporary and follow-up PCR tests will be brought back when the worst of the Omicron wave passes.

PCR tests will be restored when prevalence dips back to or below around 1%. Currently it is thought to be 4% or more.

It should ease pressure on the system - but will raise fears about detection of Covid falling just as the virus is running rampant in England.

PCR tests are not just used to confirm people are positive, but also in crucial work to sequence new variants of Covid. That cannot happen with LFTs.

The new system will also continue to rely on people honestly reporting their own lateral flow results to the NHS.