Welsh Government “considering options” after England scraps PCR tests for returning travellers

The Welsh Government is “considering options” after the UK Government confirmed the scrapping of day two PCR Covid tests for returning overseas travellers.

Travellers returning to England from October 24 will instead need to take a cheaper lateral flow test.

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

A spokesperson said: “We are concerned about the UK Government’s approach to reopening international travel and have long called for a genuine four nations approach to decisions.

“We are still waiting for information from the UK Government on how this lateral flow test system will operate, what standards will be put in place for private testing companies and how new variants of coronavirus will be identified if they come into the UK.

“We are considering the options for Wales.”

Answering a question in the Senedd on Friday, October 8, 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 added: “We are in discussion with the UK Government on the details of how the proposed changes will work in practice. As soon as key information is provided, we will be able to make a decision on what is best for the people of Wales.”