To ask the Minister of Health what consideration has been given to the potential for PCR testing requirements, associated with inward bound travel into the UK/NI, to identify residual infection from previous COVID-19 illnesses and thus necessitate additional isolation periods for recovered individuals.

The requirements on international travel, for travellers arriving into Northern Ireland from outside the Common Travel Area (UK, RoI, Isle of Man and Channel Islands) are laid down in the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021.

Travel restrictions in place for arrivals into Northern Ireland from higher risk countries (red list countries) include pre-departure testing, 10 day managed hotel isolation and PCR testing on days 2 and 8 post-arrival. Travel restrictions in place for arrivals into Northern Ireland from non-red list countries are predicated on vaccination status.

Those who qualify as 'fully vaccinated' are required to undertake PCR testing on day 2 post-arrival, whilst those who do not qualify as fully vaccinated must undertake pre-departure testing, self-isolate at their home or place where they are staying for 10 days and undertake PCR tests on days 2 and 8 post-arrival.

The purpose of pre-departure testing is to determine infectiousness at time of departure to Northern Ireland. The tests that can be used include PCR, LFD or LAMP tests, provided they meet the minimum performance standards in the regulations. Guidance on NI Direct outlines that LFD tests are less likely to return a positive result due to a historic infection.

Post-arrival PCR testing is aimed at identifying positive infections and variants of the virus, picked up as a result of international travel. Where positive cases are identified, there is a requirement to self-isolate for 10 days following the day the test was undertaken.

Public health advice remains that virus levels diminish after 10 days to a level where it is unlikely to transmit the infection.