Major change to Covid test rules coming as walk-in PCRs and LTFs ‘unavailable’

SLOTS for PCRs and lateral flows have run out today – as a major change to Covid test rules is expected.

Brits hoping to book a PCR test at a drive-through or walk in site in England have been told there are none left.

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Lateral flow tests for home delivery have also run out, with no slots available on the Government website.

However, local pharmacies or collection points should have supplies left so it’s worth checking there, and PCRs for at home testing are still available through the post.

Last week the system strained under the weight of Brits trying to order tests, as the variant rapidly spread during the festive period – with boxes being snapped up quickly.

Scientists have found that the Omicron variant – which is now responsible for 90 per cent of cases in the UK – is milder, with most people suffering cold-like symptoms.

The first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalisation is 50 to 70 per cent lower than with Delta.

Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.

It comes as Brits who test positive with a DIY lateral flow test will no longer need a follow-up PCR check under imminent rule changes.

Instead, they will be told to self-isolate for a week as long as they are negative on day six and seven.

Currently, people must have a confirmatory gold-standard PCR check after a positive lateral flow – and this is still the case until any new rules comes in.

But ministers are expected to ditch the requirement to help free up much-needed testing capacity – as thousands face long delays getting both PCR and lateral flows due to supply chain issues.

By eliminating the need to wait for a PCR test, Brits could see their isolation cut down by one or two days.

Nearly 31,000 confirmatory PCR checks were carried out in England alone on December 29.

The Omicron-driven surge in coronavirus cases and the knock-on effect of staff absences is already causing major problems in parts of the health service.

A string of NHS trusts declared critical incidents and hospitals in Greater Manchester said they will pause some “non-urgent” surgery over the “rising impact” of Covid-19 and staffing shortages.

A record 218,724 lab-confirmed Covid-19 cases were announced in England and Scotland on Tuesday, though the figure will have been inflated by delayed reporting over the holiday period.

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Officials hope a change in testing rules will also reduce infection spread, as Brits will no longer leave home to get an extra test.

And there are concerns a tiny minority are being told they are wrongly negative by the follow-up PCR and then haplessly spreading the bug.

A health source said: “The overwhelming likelihood is that if you have a positive lateral flow, then you are infectious.

“So there is no need for an extra PCR check when testing is already under huge strain.”

But the rule change has been delayed by red tape around sickness payments.

Until the changes are officially brought in it’s not clear which circumstances Brits might still be asked to get a PCR test in – but it’s likely that if you have symptoms but a negative lateral flow, that is when a PCR would be called for.

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