BRITS who test positive with a DIY lateral flow test will no longer need a follow-up PCR check, under imminent rule changes.
Instead, they will be told to self-isolate for a week as long as they are negative on day six and seven.
Currently, people must have a confirmatory gold-standard PCR check after a positive lateral flow.
But ministers are expected to ditch the requirement to help free up much-needed testing capacity.
Nearly 31,000 confirmatory checks were carried out in England alone on December 29.
Officials hope the rule change will also reduce infection spread, as Brits will no longer leave home to get an extra test.
And there are concerns a tiny minority are being told they are wrongly negative by the follow-up PCR and then haplessly spreading the bug.
A health source said: “The overwhelming likelihood is that if you have a positive lateral flow, then you are infectious.
“So there is no need for an extra PCR check when testing is already under huge strain.”
But the rule change has been delayed by red tape around sickness payments.
No 10 yesterday refused to rule out rationing Covid tests in the coming weeks.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We would obviously need to keep under review, as prevalence is incredibly high, what the right approach might be and we continue to take advice on whether that is necessary.”
