Pre-departure tests 'likely to be dropped this week'

The curbs were rapidly reintroduced in December in a bid to slow the reach of the Omicron variant to the UK after the strain was first identified in southern Africa.

But, according to The Times, some Conservative MPs are now reportedly arguing the testing restraint is "effectively pointless" because Omicron is now the dominant variant in the UK.

"Pre-departure tests were brought in to try to slow the spread of Omicron and stop it coming into the UK," a source reportedly told the paper.

"Now that Omicron is dominant in the UK and everywhere, it reduces the argument for having it. We have other ways of slowing the spread through domestic testing."

However, the requirement for travellers to take a PCR test within two days of arriving in England is reportedly set to remain.