Day 2 PCR tests still needed for travellers to Wales – for now

Overseas travellers returning to Wales still have to take a PCR Covid test on the second day after their arrival, the Welsh Government has said.

However, the UK Government has said it will change the type to a cheaper lateral flow for people – although it has not published any firm details yet.

The Welsh Government has yet to confirm it will follow suit, although the First Minister has admitted it is difficult for Wales not to follow UK Government policy.

Answering a question in the Senedd on Friday, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “It is very difficult for us not to follow what the UK Government does in the area of international travel, because the vast bulk of people who make journeys overseas who live in Wales, do so from airports outside Wales, [and] they return to those airports [where] the regime that’s in place will be the English regime.

“Our energies have been focused on trying to persuade the UK Government not to erode the safeguards we think are properly in place to check that we’re not all going to be put at risk in a way that need not happen.”

The Welsh Government has previously voiced its opposition to the change in type of test because PCR tests can be sequenced – allowing new variants to be spotted.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The existing rules around testing after travel currently still apply meaning day two PCR tests are a requirement for returning travellers.

“We are concerned about the UK Government decision to move away from these tests, which are a vital part of our surveillance for coronavirus and the identification of new variants.

“We have, to date, not received detail on how the proposed revised testing regime will work to assess how this impacts surveillance and protection of our borders.”