Asked by: Siobhan Baillie (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on the potential merits of introducing the recently released Israeli-developed self-service instant covid-19 test at UK airports.
Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
The Government recently announced the launch of Test to Release for International Travel, which will be implemented from 15 December. The test to release scheme is a voluntary, opt-in scheme that allows people arriving in England from countries, territories and regions not on the travel corridor list to book and pay for a test which, if negative, allows them to cease self-isolating early and go about their daily lives. The test needs to be taken no earlier than 5 full days since the traveller was last in a country, territory or region, not on the travel corridors list and must meet minimum standards.
The regulations do not specify the type of test that should be used – any tests that meet the minimum standards will be able to be used for the purposes of determining whether you can cease self-isolating early. We continue to engage with international partners on health measures at the border, including how testing and other technology is developing.
Detailed guidance on minimum standards for private providers is available on Gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/testing-to-release-for-international-travel-minimum-standards-for-testing/minimum-standards-for-private-sector-providers-of-covid-19-testing-for-testing-to-release-for-international-travel