The change comes after a minister told Sky News that “around a million people” are currently isolating as a result of COVID-19.
People experiencing the three official COVID symptoms - a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - will still be expected to get a PCR.
But the UKHSA said that those who test positive on lateral flow devices but do not have these symptoms do not need to take follow-up PCR tests.
The move would allow those who are asymptomatic - about 40% of cases - to return to work more quickly.
According to the UKHSA, it is a temporary measure while rates of the virus remain high across the UK and will free up capacity in laboratories for PCR tests for those who do have symptoms.
People who test positive on lateral flows will still need to isolate for at least seven days, and register their positive results.
Officials said that while rates remain high, the “vast majority” of people who get a positive lateral flow result can be confident they have COVID.
At the moment, people without symptoms who test positive on a lateral flow are asked to take a PCR test and to only begin their isolation period when they get the second result.
This effectively requires them to isolate for longer than seven days, especially if there are delays in getting the PCR result.
This reaction is, presumably, because the PCR testing system just can’t cope with the demand - if Dido Harding were still in charge she would say “We didn’t see it coming” … 
