Testing delays ‘causing havoc’
While the rules are set to change next week, at present, anyone who tests positive on a lateral flow but does not have Covid symptoms must get a confirmatory PCR test.
They must also isolate for 10 days after the PCR however, testing delays means it can take up to four days to get a slot, resulting in some having to isolate for up to 14 days.
Young’s boss Patrick Dardis told The Telegraph now was the time to get on living and to learn to live with the “very mild variant”.
Sector comment
He added: “After the next week or so, the numbers will come tumbling down. We must open up the economy and save thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs.”
The newspaper reported City Pub Group chairman Clive Warson said the requirement to get a PCR test to confirm coronavirus symptoms was “playing havoc” in his business and could result in team members being off “on average 12 to 13 days”.
Furthermore, The Telegraph also reported UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “If the situation continues to look positive, ministers should be cautiously optimistic to reduce and remove current constraints around testing, self-isolation and travel to keep the economy moving.”
Rule change
However, from 11 January, those who receive positive lateral flow test results will be required to self-isolate immediately but won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test, the Government announced yesterday (5 January).
The Government stated this was a temporary measure while Covid-19 rates remain high across the UK.
Furthermore, in line with the reduced self-isolation approach announced on 22 December, anyone who tests positive will be able to leave self-isolation seven days after the date of their initial positive test, if they receive two negative lateral flow test results, 24 hours apart, on days six and seven.
