PCR test overhaul date 'in the coming days', says Shapps

The transport secretary told Sky News on Friday (8 October) that the government wants to implement the change in time for the October half-term.

"I know my colleagues over at health, and to a certain extent the home office, they’re the people who will have to implement this change, are working extremely hard on getting this done and so we anticipate having it ready for the half term," Shapps said.

"My advice for people would be to just hold off, you will need to make sure you’ve got a lateral flow test booked and you put the reference number on your passenger locator form before you come home, which you can sort out whilst you’re abroad in most cases."

The government also confirmed that passengers will be able to send a picture of their lateral flow test as a minimum requirement to verify the result when the cheaper alternative is introduced.

It comes after the Department for Transport slashed the red list from 54 countries down to just seven.