PCR test

A close-up of someone having a Covid vaccine jab. PIC: Alamy/PA.

Why are we not taking precautions against Covid? - Jayne Dowle
My 80-year-old mother is in hospital and last week the nurse informed us, almost in passing, that she has contracted Covid. I immediately imagined the ward’s sh...

Travel rules have relaxed for UK arrivals from 11 February (Photo: Getty Images)

Major changes to Covid travel rules from today as testing is scrapped

The Transport Secretary is expected to scrap the arrival tests later this month (Photo: Getty Images)

Covid arrival tests ‘to be axed’ for fully vaccinated returning to UK

The new measures applies in England from 11 January (Photo: Getty Images)

Crucial Covid rule change affecting use of PCR tests takes effect today

Covid testing kit. (Pic credit: Jason Chadwick)

What are the new Covid testing rules in England?

Covid testing rules for people without symptoms are being relaxed (Photo: Getty Images)

Confirmatory PCR testing scrapped for people with no Covid symptoms

The self-isolation period starts immediately from the onset of symptoms or a positive test (Photo: Shutterstock)

The rules on leaving self-isolation if you still test positive after 10 days

New Zealander Caleb Stanley has joined Castleford Tigers on pre-season trial. Picture by Melanie Allatt Photography/Castleford Tigers.

Tigers trial for Kiwi Caleb Stanley

If the lateral flow test comes back negative, isolation can end after seven days (Photo: Shutterstock)

Covid self isolation in England cut to 7 days on condition of negative test

As the Omicron variant of Covid continues to spread across the UK, you may be wondering if the symptoms differ from other strains of the virus (Photo: Shutterstock)

The 'surprising' Omicron variant symptom that can appear when eating

Holiday-starved Brits still plan to flee the UK to spend Christmas abroad with l...

From 7December UK holidaymakers must take a pre-departure Covid test (Photo: Getty Images)

Pre-departure Covid tests to return for UK travellers in rule crackdown

Mobile Covid testing unit. (Pic credit: Bruce Fitzgerald)

How do you know if you have Omicron?

A mobile testing unit. (Pic credit: Bruce Fitzgerald)

Where can I get a PCR test in North Yorkshire?

Mobile Testing Unit. (Pic credit: Bruce Fitzgerald)

Where can I get a PCR test in Yorkshire?

(left to right) Professor Wei Shen Lim, Professor Jonathan Van Tam and Dr June Raine during a media briefing in Downing Street

All adults to be offered coronavirus booster vaccine

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said mandatory mask-wearing will return to shops and public transport on Tuesday (November 30). PIC: Getty

Masks to return on Tuesday but families told to plan for Christmas 'as normal'

Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during a press conference after cases of the new Covid-19 variant were confirmed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2021 in London, England. UK authorities confirmed today that two cases of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant, which had prompted a flurry of travel bans affecting several countries in Southern Africa, were found in the UK. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Tighter rules on face masks and PCR tests for foreign travel announced

The new test detects intact virus particles and gives an accurate result in five minutes

University of Sheffield researchers develop 'quicker, more accurate' Covid test

Rule change comes into force for travellers to use lateral flow tests instead of...

Bristol Airport

Travel test rules set to change - what you need to know Iain Leggat

The red list has been reduced to just seven countries - all in Latin America. (Pic credit: James Hardisty)

UK travel: What should I do before I travel abroad?

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said ministers hope to announce in the next few days the switch from a PCR to a lateral flow test for eligible fully-vaccinated travellers taking their day-two Covid test (Photo: Shutterstock)

PCR Covid tests to be scrapped ‘before half-term’ - which could save families £2...

The first and only person to book on October 6 2021 at midday (12pm) can enjoy six nights for just £6!

Ad Feature Best ever family reunion in a private manor – at a cost you won’t believe!

What is your experience of flying in the wake of the Covid pandemic?

Jet2 and Leeds Bradford Airport virus tests are causing this undue stress – York...

BACK AGAIN - Bring Me the Horizon returned to tour this week and will be at Sheffield Arena on Friday and Saturday. Pic: Jamie A. Waters @jamie_a_waters

BMTH bringing 'pure energy' to arena

Holiday bookings are expected to soar after the Government announced a relaxation of international travel rules (Photo: Hollie Adams/Getty Images)

Holiday bookings set to soar after government announces relaxation of internatio...

The travel changes are expected to come into force ahead of the October half-term break (Photo: Getty Images)

Overhaul of Covid travel rules expected today with double jabbed set to benefit

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has the highest Covid-19 case rates in England (Photo: Getty Images)

Tourists urged not to visit Cornwall as Covid rates reach highest in England

A testing centre at an airport. (Pic credit: Tolga Akmen / Getty Images)

What is a PCR test? Covid test explained

NHS staff and key workers receive the coronavirus vaccine (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Self-isolation rules change from today: this is what you need to know

Self-isolation changes on Monday for fully-vaccinated people - full list of new ... Carly Roberts

International travel rules in the Covid pandemic are continuing to cause chaos and confusion, writes Jayne Dowle.

Holiday chaos is a price worth paying for my family – Jayne Dowle

Arrivals returning from Spain must use a PCR test as their mandatory pre-departure test (Photo: Getty Images)

New travel advice issued for Spain as government recommends PCR tests for holida...

New research suggests daily testing in secondary schools can cut Covid-related illnesses by 39 per cent (Photo: Getty Images)

Daily Covid testing ‘just as effective’ in controlling transmission as self isol...

Fully jabbed frontline NHS staff in England will, in “exceptional circumstances”, be permitted to carry on working if they are “pinged” (Getty Images)

Fully jabbed NHS staff could be spared from isolation rules to avoid ‘pingdemic’

A notification issued by the NHS coronavirus contact tracing app - informing a person of the need to self-isolate immediately, due to having been in close contact with someone who has coronavirus (Yui Mok/PA)

Vaccinated NHS staff can skip isolation to work in 'exceptional circumstances'

Health Secretary Sajid Javid. Pic: PA Wire.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid self-isolating after testing positive for Covid

LEADING MEN: England's Ben Stokes, right, and head coach Chris Silverwood during a nets session at Sophia Gardens. Picture: David Davies/PA

England v Pakistan – No hesitation from Stokes over taking lead ODI role

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced that people who have had two doses of a Covid vaccine and children under 18 will no longer need to self-isolate if they come into close contact with a confirmed Covid case from August 16. (Jonathan Brady/PA)

School bubbles and self-isolation for close contacts to go this summer

Travellers hoping to visit Ibiza, Majorca or Mallorca must now show either proof of two vaccinations or a negative PCR test taken with the last 48 hours on landing.
Pictured: Leeds Bradford Airport

Confusion for Balearic Islands travellers as rules change around PCR tests

School lessons continue to be disrupted by Covid, but what can be done to tackle this?

Relax virus rules so pupils can stay in lessons – Jayne Dowle

Malta will not accept NHS app as proof of vaccination for UK travellers (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Malta will not accept NHS app as proof of vaccination for UK travellers

Johanna Konta has withdrawn from Wimbledon after being classified as a close contact of a positive test for Covid-19, organisers have announced. Picture: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire

British No 1 Johanna Konta out of Wimbledon

The UK government will review the travel list on 24 June (Photo: Getty Images)

When the foreign travel list will be updated - and the countries that could move...

UK travellers no longer required to take PCR test to go to Portugal (Photo: Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

UK travellers no longer required to take PCR test to go to Portugal

Patient samples are transferred by scientists into plates before entering the PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) process for Covid-19 testing at the Glasgow Lighthouse coronavirus testing facility.

Surge testing rolled out in Calderdale after outbreak of Covid-19 Delta variant

Surge testing to be deployed in Calderdale

Covid Delta variant: Surge testing to be deployed in these Calderdale areas

Brits will no longer need a ‘compelling reason’ to enter the country from 9 June (Photo: Getty Images)

France is reopening its borders to fully vaccinated UK tourists from next week

The new test allows you to take a swab from the mouth instead of the nose (Photo: Getty Images)

No more horrible nose swabs with new saliva-based Covid test for holidays

Grant Shapps is set to hold a press conference this evening (Getty Images)

What time is today's traffic light travel announcement?

Risk of Covid reinfection is low - but over-65s are most at risk (Photo: Shutterstock)

Risk of Covid reinfection is low - but over-65s are most at risk

Experts say the tests may be producing false positives (Photo: Shutterstock)

False positive Covid tests could be disrupting teaching in schools - how common ...

Researchers found fatigue, headache, sore throat and diarrhoea to be common symptoms of Covid-19 (Photo: Shutterstock)

Extending Covid symptoms list could detect third more cases - the other signs to...

Leeds Rhinos' training base at Kirkstall, which has shut down for a minimum of five days. (PIC: LEEDS RHINOS)

Covid outbreak at Leeds Rhinos

Are rapid Covid tests accurate? This is what studies show as mass testing is rol...

The Yorkshire Vet faced some challenges diagnosing a cat.

An usual case of a cat with cowpox for the Yorkshire Vet Julian Norton

Heathrow Airport has launched a pre-departure Covid testing facility - what it m...

Jet2 has cancelled flights to Cyprus until 17 August, due to new coronavirus restrictions put in place by the country (Photo: Shutterstock)

Jet2 cancels flights to Cyprus - here’s what to do if you had a holiday booked

News you can trust since 1754

© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Terms and Conditions Privacy notice