Cambridge172
15th Dec 2020, 14:57
The Government's great initiative for Test to Release in order to escape quarantine earlier than the now 10 days requirement (was 14 of course), has, not unsurprisingly been hopeless.
Of the eleven test providers approved by the government, only two are able to provide the tests today - websites have crashed, phones overwhelmed etc. A couple of companies have asked to come off the list.
You have to book the tests (proper RT-PCR lab processed tests) before you do your passenger locator forms, in turn within 48 hours before your flight, to get a reference number to put on the PLF. The tests are not allowed to be dispatched to you until day five of isolation, so if posted, chances are you get test on day six if very lucky, more realistically day seven - add Xmas post delays and could be another day at least. You do the test and then post back to laboratory via pre-paid special delivery - which should get to lab by day eight. If you are very lucky you'll get your result on day nine, one day before the 10 day quarantine finishes anyway. £100-quid typically to save one day of quarantine. Alternatively, you spend a fortune getting a courier to deliver a kit to your home on day five and then another courier to take to the laboratory the same day and for that add perhaps several hundred pounds - you might escape quarantine up to four days early. However, there isn't the capacity anyway, so forget that one.
Useless
Of the eleven test providers approved by the government, only two are able to provide the tests today - websites have crashed, phones overwhelmed etc. A couple of companies have asked to come off the list.
You have to book the tests (proper RT-PCR lab processed tests) before you do your passenger locator forms, in turn within 48 hours before your flight, to get a reference number to put on the PLF. The tests are not allowed to be dispatched to you until day five of isolation, so if posted, chances are you get test on day six if very lucky, more realistically day seven - add Xmas post delays and could be another day at least. You do the test and then post back to laboratory via pre-paid special delivery - which should get to lab by day eight. If you are very lucky you'll get your result on day nine, one day before the 10 day quarantine finishes anyway. £100-quid typically to save one day of quarantine. Alternatively, you spend a fortune getting a courier to deliver a kit to your home on day five and then another courier to take to the laboratory the same day and for that add perhaps several hundred pounds - you might escape quarantine up to four days early. However, there isn't the capacity anyway, so forget that one.
Useless