Scrutable

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 1:43 pm

The PCR test on day 2 is going to be unpleasantly expensive I expect.

It's a Before the end of Day 2 test, even in the new revised rules. So you can get a test at the airport when you arrive. And in our experience, that can prove economical relative to being ripped off by a mail-order test provider. Who can probably get away with that rip-off because for many it is convenient to have an unsupervised test.

One (of many) ridiculous feature of the rules applying in the summer, which I don't think have changed, is that you could satisfy the rules by having tests at both remote departure and local arrival airports on the same day. What's the point of testing someone twice on the same day? It's as if they don't trust the foreign test. Maybe that's because they know that our own testing arrangements are untrustworthy.

I'm hoping to come to the UK with my wife for the Christmas period. Self-isolation while waiting for PCR results will be a bit of an arse, especially as we'll be staying with my parents.

Incidentally, I booked PCR tests on arrival for the two of us. We have separate reference numbers, but they both seem to be associated with my name (there was no option to choose the name and I paid for them both as I have a UK bank account while my wife does not). Does anyone know if that will cause problems on the passenger locator form we have to fill in before setting off?

IvanV wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:03 am

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 1:43 pm

The PCR test on day 2 is going to be unpleasantly expensive I expect.

One (of many) ridiculous feature of the rules applying in the summer, which I don't think have changed, is that you could satisfy the rules by having tests at both remote departure and local arrival airports on the same day. What's the point of testing someone twice on the same day? It's as if they don't trust the foreign test. Maybe that's because they know that our own testing arrangements are untrustworthy.

Originally Day 2 tests had to be PCR and their purpose was to monitor what was being brought into the country, not to check if individuals were clear of the virus, as in any case they had to isolate for 8 days then be tested again. At this time an additional test on the same day made sense.

At some point this changed to allowing LF tests for Day 2. This could make sense to check for false negatives, were it not for the UK allowing self-tests to count, which made these tests pointless.

Sturgeon says the Scottish and Welsh governments both think that travel restrictions should be tougher. They think people arriving in the UK should have to isolate for eight days, with PCR tests at day eight as well as at day two (which is what is required already).

live blog link

Given that I'm far more likely to catch covid in the UK then I am here (as things stand at the moment) I will cancel my trip if this comes into force because I don't want to get stuck on shithole plague island. So I'm hoping they do it. But they'll say they won't do it and then bring it in at the last moment. Which will f.ck me over twice.

IvanV wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:03 am

One (of many) ridiculous feature of the rules applying in the summer, which I don't think have changed, is that you could satisfy the rules by having tests at both remote departure and local arrival airports on the same day. What's the point of testing someone twice on the same day? It's as if they don't trust the foreign test. Maybe that's because they know that our own testing arrangements are untrustworthy.

Foreign testing doesn't provide an income stream to the mates of Tory MPs. I assume this isn't why there isn't the insistence on Pre-travel testing that we had last year.

shpalman wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 29, 2021 11:08 am

Sturgeon says the Scottish and Welsh governments both think that travel restrictions should be tougher. They think people arriving in the UK should have to isolate for eight days, with PCR tests at day eight as well as at day two (which is what is required already).

live blog link

Given that I'm far more likely to catch covid in the UK then I am here (as things stand at the moment) I will cancel my trip if this comes into force because I don't want to get stuck on shithole plague island. So I'm hoping they do it. But they'll say they won't do it and then bring it in at the last moment. Which will f.ck me over twice.

This is exactly why we called off our Christmas trip to Germany. We could see things changing before we even left the UK. Getting back from a 7 day break and potentially having to isolate for > several days both sides seemed pointless.

shpalman wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 29, 2021 11:08 am

Sturgeon says the Scottish and Welsh governments both think that travel restrictions should be tougher. They think people arriving in the UK should have to isolate for eight days, with PCR tests at day eight as well as at day two (which is what is required already).

live blog link

Given that I'm far more likely to catch covid in the UK then I am here (as things stand at the moment) I will cancel my trip if this comes into force because I don't want to get stuck on shithole plague island. So I'm hoping they do it. But they'll say they won't do it and then bring it in at the last moment. Which will f.ck me over twice.

Currently saying that they won't do it.

Give it a week or so…

IvanV wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:03 am

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 28, 2021 1:43 pm

The PCR test on day 2 is going to be unpleasantly expensive I expect.

It's a Before the end of Day 2 test, even in the new revised rules. So you can get a test at the airport when you arrive...

Presumably the self-isolation you need to do until you get your negative result starts applying after you've got home from the airport via whatever public transport.

STN walk-in PCR on arrival is listed as costing £55.20.

shpalman wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 30, 2021 9:59 am

Presumably the self-isolation you need to do until you get your negative result starts applying after you've got home from the airport via whatever public transport.

STN walk-in PCR on arrival is listed as costing £55.20.

The airport PCR test seems capable of giving you a result while you wait. That's certainly what they do for departing passengers.

I think even people going to quarantine hotels are not impeded from using public transport. What else are they supposed to do, given vehicles with a covid-secure compartment for the driver are rarely available to provide a specialist transport service.

The £55 airport PCR test would have been cheaper than the £30 mail-order LF test we ordered, because we got whammed with a concealed £25 courier charge, plus some other small charges, that pushed it over £60. This from a supplier advertising "no hidden charges" in big letters on their website. As far as I can see the only point of enforcement is booking the test. Which might explain why we never got any kind of acknowledgment or official result from the mail-order test after we sent it in. Big drinks all round for friends of Tory MPs.

shpalman wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:53 pm

International arrivals to UK will be required to have pre-departure Covid tests

Somewhat predictable that they're still trying to scapegoat foreigners for the country's (100% self-inflicted) predicament.

Still, it's easy enough to get a lateral flow over here so meh.

shpalman wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:53 pm

International arrivals to UK will be required to have pre-departure Covid tests

Someone on one of me FB feeds has said they've been quoted €120 per person for tests before returning home from the Canaries.
I've let them know that our return from France in September was only €25 per person with tests done at a small town pharmacy.
They have a couple of days to do the research.

Hope it helps them

That's nuts, especially as lateral flows seem to be allowed. The travel certification costs extra, and perhaps in tourist hotspots they can fix the price a bit?

They seem to be about 25€ round Lisbon.

Btw, l probably will do extra LFTs when meeting relatives etc. How much do they cost in the UK? Wondering if I should stock up on 2.50€ kits. Or is there some app integration using UK ones?

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:12 pm

Btw, l probably will do extra LFTs when meeting relatives etc. How much do they cost in the UK? Wondering if I should stock up on 2.50€ kits. Or is there some app integration using UK ones?

They are free: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-ra ... flow-tests not sure if there are any issues with addresses and stuff but you could ask someone to stock up for you? You can order one pack of 7 per day.

discovolante wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:14 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:12 pm

Btw, l probably will do extra LFTs when meeting relatives etc. How much do they cost in the UK? Wondering if I should stock up on 2.50€ kits. Or is there some app integration using UK ones?

They are free: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-ra ... flow-tests not sure if there are any issues with addresses and stuff but you could ask someone to stock up for you? You can order one pack of 7 per day.

Awesome, thanks. One less thing to do then

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 12:55 am

discovolante wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:14 pm

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:12 pm

Btw, l probably will do extra LFTs when meeting relatives etc. How much do they cost in the UK? Wondering if I should stock up on 2.50€ kits. Or is there some app integration using UK ones?

They are free: https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-ra ... flow-tests not sure if there are any issues with addresses and stuff but you could ask someone to stock up for you? You can order one pack of 7 per day.

Awesome, thanks. One less thing to do then

May be dependent on your having an NHS number, but a relative could get some in advance for you to use while here.

I've just whizzed through the form again and no, no NHS number needed. I think the form to report the result asks for GP details and stuff but I'd be surprised if they were mandatory questions and anyway, I'd also be surprised if most people always bothered reporting the result.

My (former?) GP keeps texting me about jabs and other covid stuff so I guess I'm registered enough. If not I'll get my mum to do it.

Thanks for checking, disco! Very kind.

A few days ago, I went into a pharmacy and asked for a pack, and they handed it over no questions asked. They did give me a leaflet saying that from October 2021 you need a "collect code" obtained online, but they didn't bother asking me for one. (Why worry, it's more money for Matt's Mates.)

Bird on a Fire wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 9:37 pm

shpalman wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:53 pm

International arrivals to UK will be required to have pre-departure Covid tests

Somewhat predictable that they're still trying to scapegoat foreigners for the country's (100% self-inflicted) predicament.

Still, it's easy enough to get a lateral flow over here so meh.

I should be able to get one done in a pharmacy, but I've never tried. Hopefully they aren't clogged up with no-vax morons who need to get one every two/three days.

So just to recap that's rapid test before I leave, PCR within two days of arriving, and rapid test before I come back. Neither of the rapid tests can be self-administered.

Just to avoid spreading covid between two countries which by then will probably have the same case rates. I still reckon I'm much more likely to catch it in England and be stuck there unable to come back.

... and apparently my sister is planning dinner for 17 people! That would be a bit of a NOPE for me even without the covid situation. I wouldn't be surprised if household mixing gets limited before then, for anyone who isn't in the government.

Lol. My aunts (both Boris fans) are doing some Christmas get-together with probably about the same number.

They were concerned about me coming from abroad and therefore being a big risk, till I said I'd have had 3 tests by then. I then sent a graph of UK vs Portugal case rates since June, and asked why they weren't more worried about all the English people turning up. *tumbleweed*

(Don't worry, I wasn't expecting right-wingers to respond to data with anything other than incomprehension/denial)

I'd like to go, though, as I do like my family really and haven't seen any of them since my granny's funeral 2+ years ago.