Wales adopts UK Covid rules, but holds back on PCR testing change

The Welsh government said it would align with the UK government on merging green and amber travel lists and removing the pre-departure test for the fully vaccinated.

However, it added: “A decision on moving away from PCR tests is still to be made.”

Eluned Morgan, Welsh minister for health and social services, said: “We have regularly called for a careful approach to international travel to prevent coronavirus being re-imported into the UK, especially new and emerging variants which may not respond to the vaccines.

“The decision to move away from PCR tests from returning travellers on day two is concerning. This test, combined with genetic sequencing of all positive tests, is a vital part of our surveillance for coronavirus and protects our borders from the virus.”

Morgan added the Welsh government would continue to examine evidence for a Wales-only testing regime, “but the strongest solution to protect public health is for the UK government to reinstate UK-wide testing”.

Abta’s director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge said: “We welcome confirmation that the Welsh government will align with the rest of the UK by removing pre-departure testing for fully vaccinated travellers from 4 October.

“This will make the process much easier for returning travellers and go some way to reducing costs. However, the decision not to confirm alignment on Day 2 testing rules – enabling the use of much cheaper lateral flow tests – is disappointing, and we urge ministers to reconsider.

“It is important to remember that anyone who provides a positive lateral flow test after travelling would still be required to seek a confirmatory PCR test, so genomic sequencing ability will be retained.

"Keeping in place more expensive testing arrangements in Wales will leave the Welsh travel and tourism industry facing a competitive disadvantage and it will damage the recovery of the sector.”