UK authorities ease COVID testing requirements in England

By DANICA KIRKA and MIKE CORDER
Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — U.K. health authorities have eased COVID-19 testing requirements in England. The move is designed to help tackle staff shortages that are hitting public services amid an omicron-fueled surge in infections. The change announced Wednesday came a day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the country has “a chance to ride out” the omicron variant-driven surge in infections without imposing tough lockdown measures. Johnson is meeting with Cabinet ministers before answering questions in Parliament and delivering a statement on COVID-19. The U.K. Health Security Agency says that from Jan. 11 people in England who test positive using a rapid lateral flow test will no longer need to confirm the result with a PCR test if they have no symptoms.