As of today (11 January) in England, people who receive a positive lateral flow test will be required to self-isolate immediately but won’t need to take a confirmatory PCR test. With COVID-19 rates so high, the government is confident that someone with a positive lateral flow result has Covid and can act on that test result without needing a PCR test too.
People who wish to apply for the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment and those who receive a positive Day 2 lateral flow result after arriving in the UK will still be required to take a PCR test.
People with any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 are still strongly advised to take a PCR test, not a lateral flow test.
For the latest Government COVID-19 guidelines visit Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
