Shawdesh Desk :

More than 80 private Covid travel test providers listed on the government’s website will be issued two-strike warnings over misleading prices, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced.

A further 57 firms will be removed from the website on Monday, because they either no longer exist or do not actually provide the relevant tests, BBC reported.

The UK government will also introduce spot checks on the test providers.

The government has made it a condition of international travel to England that tests before travel, and on your arrival in the UK are mandatory.

The number of tests that are needed is dependent on your arrival from either a green or amber country or your vaccination status. Arrivals from red countries must still use quarantine hotel facilities.

The government website has a list of private companies that offer such tests – but a recent review by the Department of Health found the prices displayed were lower on the Gov.UK site than the actual amount they cost.

Some of the most common complaints from travellers also mention tests listed on the government’s list of providers that do not exist at the price advertised, whilst others allege poor service.

“57 firms will be removed from the Gov.UK list and a further 82 will be given a two-strike warning – if they advertise misleading prices ever again, they’re off.”

He added that the spot checks being introduced were to ensure that all private providers “follow the rules” and meet the government’s “high standards of transparency”.