The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that asymptomatic people in England who test positive on lateral flow tests will no longer need a follow-up PCR to officially begin their isolation period.
This change will take effect from 11 January.
At present, people without symptoms who test LFT positive are asked to order a PCR test, and are then told to only begin their isolation period when they get the PCR result, which effectively requires them to isolate for longer than seven days.
Awaiting PCR results is said to be a cause of delay to the official start of isolation for hundreds of thousands of people.
Growing delays in getting PCR test results have also been widely reported across the UK.
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The announcement by the UKHSA today comes after Health Minister Gillian Keegan this morning said that there is likely “about a million people” currently in self-isolation across the UK right now, after official figures released yesterday showed that the UK recorded 218,724 positive cases over COVID-19 in the latest 24-hour period.
Follow-up PCR tests are no longer required for asymptomatic people who test positive on lateral flows / Credit: Flickr (Tom Wolf)
People experiencing the three official COVID symptoms, which are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – will still be expected to get a PCR, however, but for those who don’t not show any of those symptoms when the LFT shows positive, will not have to get a follow-up PCR, the UKHSA has confirmed.
This change would allow those who are asymptomatic – about 40% of cases – to return to work more quickly.
According to the UKHSA, this change is just a “temporary measure” while COVID rates remain high and continue to rise across the UK and will free up capacity in laboratories for PCR tests for those who do have symptoms.
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Awaiting PCR results is said to be a cause of delay to the official start of isolation for hundreds of thousands of people / Credit: StockSnap
People who test positive on lateral flow tests will still need to isolate for at least seven days, and register their positive results.
“While cases of COVID continue to rise, this tried and tested approach means that LFTs can be used confidently to indicate COVID-19 infection without the need for PCR confirmation,” explained Dr Jenny Harries – Chief Executive at UKHSA.
“It remains really important that anyone who experiences COVID-19 symptoms self-isolates immediately,” she concluded.
Jackass star Bam Margera cancels Manchester shows due to ‘injury’ after street fight video emerges
Danny Jones
Former Jackass star Bam Margera has had to cancel both of his Manchester shows just hours before the first event was supposed to take place due to injury.
The skater, TV personality, filmmaker and former stunt performer is currently in the UK for his Q&A tour and live interview series with DJ and presenter Matt Stocks, having recently played in Glasgow and a pair of shows in the Republic of Ireland.
However, the 44-year-old has unexpectedly had to cancel both of his intimate conversation dates at Gorilla in the city centre, with the venue citing “unforeseen complications emerging from a recent injury”.
He was set to play this evening and again next week on Tuesday, 30 April, with the shows billed as somewhat of a meet and greet with Margera and him “talking from the heart”.
INFO REGARDING BAM MARGERA SHOWS ON 23RD/30TH APRIL
"Due to unforeseen complications emerging from a recent injury, it is with regret that this tour is now cancelled. We are sorry to those excited to meet Bam on this tour. Refunds will be available from point of purchase" pic.twitter.com/4OGQ6hUZVq
While details surrounding how the scrap arose and the identity of the other man in the video still remain scarce, Margera has officially claimed self-defence. He can be heard shouting several expletives in the man’s direction throughout the altercation.
Responding to what he called a ‘bum fight’ on his other Instagram page, he tells 911: “Get a police officer here. Los Angeles Police Department is fucking worthless…
“You should be ashamed of yourselves… It’s been two hours of us trying to sleep and, fucking, this dude’s throwing shit everywhere and nobody showed up.”
Speaking to TMZ, a representative from his team reiterated that the unidentified male was the aggressor and eventually exited the situation with both parties leaving without injury at the time.
That being said, is still unclear as to whether the incident and the cancellation of his Gorilla shows in Manchester are linked.
Offering a separate statement directly, he added: “I’m not going to be threatened or attacked without defending myself and my friends or people trying to just walk by this idiot, I aimed only to neutralize the threat and ensure the safety of my crew.”
Bam’s rep told the outlet that the altercation ended with no injuries and the aggressor eventually departed and he is still yet to issue a response after calling off the remainder of his dates.
FA Cup final confirmed for 3pm kick-off time as Metropolitan Police stress safety for fans
Danny Jones
The start time for the 2023/24 FA Cup final has officially been confirmed with holders Manchester City and challengers Manchester United set to kick off at 3pm on Saturday, 25 May.
It’s a Manc final for the second year running and yet another Manchester Derby this year as City beat Chelsea on penalties to try and defend one of their trophies from last season and Man United did just about enough to scrape through against Coventry City this past weekend.
Logistics and travel arrangements for the conclusion of last year’s FA Cup proved problematic, with the Metropolitan Police stressing that they needed the schedule brought forward to try and help curb crowd trouble – the first time the final had been reverted back to a traditional 3pm start since 2011.
Kick-off times for the knockout tournament have varied for the last three finals, having taken place at 4:45 and 5:15pm in the two years prior to 2023’s first-ever all-Manchester final, but it looks as though the same rationale has been put in place once again.
The kick-off time for the FA Cup final has been confirmed for 3pm.
As per an official statement by the FA, the final has now been officially confirmed as 3pm BST which has been agreed with local authorities, members of the Safety Advisory Group and broadcasters, as well as with the clubs who must take the time needed for fans to travel to and from Wembley into consideration.
While pockets of fighting broke out before and after the game last year, it was deemed that this time would still be the best kick-off time for all parties involved and there will, of course, be an increased police presence in London for the game next month.
Although prioritising safety comes as welcome news, it’ll no doubt prove to be a blow to broadcasters who prefer later kick-offs when eyeing up peak audience numbers; the game is also set to clash with ITV’s coverage of the rugby as the Investec Champions Cup final is also due to start at 2:45pm.
With last season’s historic FA Cup final being the first time the two sides had met in the final in the entire history of the oldest competition in all of football, it rounded off a massive year of viewing figures for the tournament which has continued to hit record numbers in 2024.
The game will once again be shown live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and ITV1; ITVX, UTV, as well as STV, and there will no doubt be huge screenings of the game all over Greater Manchester, where an increased police presence is also expected.
Emily Sergeant -
5th January 2022 
