The delay is fuelling a shortage of PCR test capacity – a concern partly to blame for ministers only planning to lift self-isolation for those who are fully vaccinated from August 16, it is understood. 'There would be very clear criteria around it - it would be for the essential maintenance of services that otherwise would, if they weren't there, cause potential harm to patients if they were not able to access them,” Dr Caesar told BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme.Ī mega lab hailed by Matt Hancock as 'future-proofing' Britain against pandemics is running at less than 10 per cent capacity, The Telegraph can reveal. SNP ministers are in discussions to implement a similar plan, with the hope the move will free up medics to deal with pressure in hospitals as services attempt to grapple with the Covid backlog.

Under the new system South of the Border, certain staff who are contacted by Test and Trace will need to show a negative PCR test before they can resume working, followed by daily lateral flow tests. New guidance that could remove the blanket requirement for double-vaccinated NHS staff to isolate if they are a close contact of a Covid case will come within days, Scotland’s deputy chief medical officer said on Monday.ĭr Dave Caesar said the new advice will be issued 'in the next day or two' after it emerged that double-jabbed NHS staff in England will be allowed to carry on working in 'exceptional circumstances'.

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