The regular change of Covid-19 policies does not give private coronavirus testing companies enough time to plan, George Xynopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of Medical Diagnosis UK has said.
So far, more than 80,000 Omicron cases have been found in the UK. As a result, the government has announced stricter Covid-19 policies, including that people should hold a Covid pass or negative lateral flow test result when at venues and indoor settings in England.
But the government does not give private testing companies an indication as to what the companies should be doing. “We have invested lots of money in PCR and now we need more rapid lateral flow tests,” Xynopoulos said.
On 27 November, after two Omicron cases were confirmed in the UK, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that everyone entering the UK would be required to take a PCR test on or before day two of their arrival and isolate until they receive a negative result.
To stop the spread of the Omicron variant, more international travel restrictions were introduced – including the requirement of vaccine certificates, negative test results and quarantine rules. International travel is becoming more difficult and “everyone has to become more realistic and plan in advance,” Xynopoulos said.
Some customers of day two PCR test services complained on Twitter that they had difficulties in receiving the test results “within the time frame given by the company”.
@SimonCalder hi Simon. Is there a way I can get a refund on a day2 PCR test as I have not received my results within the time frame given by company and they have turned off all communications. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
— HB79 (@blenchy79) December 8, 2021
Lord Tyrie, a former MP and Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee told the BBC: “misleading online advertisements, overpricing, unacceptably poor service” are still common among private testing companies.
“The time to deliver the results is very depressing,” because it is hard to balance the speed and the quality of test results, Xynopoulos said.
The delivery of testing kits is another problem because Covid-19 has hit the mail system badly. A source from the Royal Mail told the BBC that the combination of people off with stress or Covid and increasing demands to send goods and preparation for Christmas led to difficulties in delivery.