Test-to-Release Scheme in chaos
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 |
won’t make much difference anyway
1. ANY amount of quarantine on arrival is enough to kill almost all travel to the U.K. 2. Thousands are just ignoring the dictat anyway |
In less than one day, a couple of the test providers have already been taken off the list and one added.
If you eventually find someone who can provide the test, (requires numerous calls and e-mails until you get someone with capacity), you need to arrange a courier pick-up and return of the test to the laboratory on day five of isolation, in order to get a result by day six - saving four days of quarantine. That might cost overall anything up to £500 (two-way couriers/taxi and the test itself). Forget the post, complete waste of time and money, you might eventually get released by day nine in practice. Alternatively, be on 'an overseas business trip that is absolutely essential and proven to win a £250,000,000 order for 'UK PLC' or save the jobs of 50+ UK-based employees' and that's the only other way to get out of quarantine (unless on the exempt list of certain critical professions). The airline industry is certainly not saved on this basis. |
Friends who are going to Spain to see elderly relatives have booked tests and find the quarantine not a problem. He is working from home for the next few months and she was made redundant (she worked for a very large travel group).
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Well I hope they have booked their tests near the start of the 72 hour arrival requirement for a negative result. Many people aren’t receiving their results in time to be allowed through baggage drop or the Gate outbound.
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Originally Posted by Nightstop
(Post 10948181)
Well I hope they have booked their tests near the start of the 72 hour arrival requirement for a negative result. Many people aren’t receiving their results in time to be allowed through baggage drop or the Gate outbound.
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Spain Entry Requirements
True for the Canary Islands, but not otherwise:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-ad...y-requirements |
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