Trailfinders questions motive behind PCR testing
Trailfinders has questioned the real purpose behind PCR tests.
It argues the expense of PCR testing could be set up as a deliberate barrier to deter people from travelling overseas.
In a blog post, Trailfinders doubts the government’s reasoning for PCR tests is to ‘aid health control.’
"The identification of new variants we are told, is why travellers have to undertake a PCR test on return. However, in the three-week period from July 1, only 354 of these tests were genomic sequenced to identify new variants of concern out of 500,000 tests it is reported."
With only 1 in 1,412 tests of returning travellers sequenced, are day 2 and day 8 PCR tests contrived to discourage travel, rather than aid health control?"
"If the government are content to sequence a tiny sample (118 per week based on these numbers), then there are better ways: saving the cost and hassle for travellers," it wrote.
"Even the fully vaccinated returning from green list countries, with very few cases, are required to undergo a day 2 test. Is the reason for these tests to deter travel rather than to uncover new variants? The data suggests this may well be the case."
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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