Travellers to Scotland will be able to use private sector tests

Travellers to Scotland from green or amber list countries will be able to use private sector Covid-19 tests.

The change comes a day after nations including Canada and Denmark were added to the UK’s green travel list.

It means that people will be able to choose from a list of approved providers when they are booking the tests they’re required to take after arriving in Scotland.

Previously, travellers were required to book an NHS home PCR tests via the UK Government’s booking portal.

The Scottish Government has indicated that the change will come into effect from “early September”.

An additional safeguard of removing any provider that does not meet stringent performance measures will also be in place, the Government said.

Humza Yousaf said the change provides 'more choice and flexibility' for travellers. — Humza Yousaf said the change provides ‘more choice and flexibility’ for travellers. STV News

Health secretary Humza Yousaf explained that the decision “weighs the benefit” to the travel sector and to the public health responsibility.

“The step provides more choice and flexibility for travellers and will provide a boost for the tourism and aviation sector,” he said.

“We have had regular engagement with the UK Government to understand the measures being taken to ensure test results will be communicated rapidly and reliably to both individuals and to contact tracing services.

“We have also been reassured that any positive results will be genomically sequenced to quickly identify any variants of concern.

“The decision carefully weighs the benefit to the travel sector against our responsibility to the wider public health, and is a further endorsement of the resounding success of our domestic vaccination roll out.”