Arrivals into England who have had two Covid jabs can use the cheaper tests from Sunday (24 October) and Wales will align with the policy next Sunday (31 October).

Those who test positive on their return will be required to isolate for 10 days and take a PCR test and travellers will have the option of booking a PCR as their day two test as the current rules state.

Despite confirming a shift in policy, welsh health minister Eluned Morgan said her government remained “concerned” about Westminster’s approach and the speed at which it was opening up international travel.

“We have consistently urged the UK government to take a precautionary approach towards reopening international travel,” she said. “However, it is difficult for us to adopt a different testing regime to that required by the UK government, as the majority of Welsh travellers enter the UK through ports and airports in England.”

Morgan said adopting different testing requirements would cause “significant practical problems [and] confusion among the travelling public”, as well as posing logistical and enforcement issues at borders and “disadvantages for Welsh businesses”.

“Having considered the implications in detail, I have reluctantly decided that for practical reasons close alignment with the UK government’s arrangements is the most viable option,” she said.

However, Morgan hit out at the UK government’s handling of the Covid travel testing market – claiming ministers had created a system which "lacks oversight and standards”.

She said she had written to UK health secretary Sajid Javid to “seek assurances” the system for day two lateral flow tests would be improved, highlighting a number of issues to tackle, including addressing concerns over consumer mistreatment being investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority.