Inside the UK’s botched Covid-19 Test to Release scheme

Oli Scarff / AFP via Getty Images By December 15, a deluge of emails brought London GP clinic SameDayDoctor to a complete standstill. This private health practice was one of 11 companies involved in the chaotic launch of Test to Release, a government scheme that was meant to cut quarantine time in half for people travelling to the UK. We couldn't even acknowledge a single one.” The botched launch of Test to Release is just one component of the UK’s Covid-19 strategy – but it is a crucial one. “On site testing centres at airports are likely to become as familiar as the security arch to most travellers,” says Avi Lasarow, European chief executive of digital health company Prenetics. Those ports of entry are going to require testing, I would say, for the foreseeable future, so that I don't think will go away.” Back on December 14, when the government announced the list of Test to Release providers, confusion reigned.