Test to release for Children under 11 arriving to UK from Abroad

silvercar

Bobbito said:

Just got off the phone with BioGrad diagnostics (from the gov list) who I have already booked Day 5 test and release tests for my wife and I.
They confirmed Day 5 Test and Release for under 4's is not required. They received a bulletin about it yesterday 01/06/21. I had already made a rushed booking for my 2 year old but they were able to refund it without issue.
They also seem to be the only company charging less than £100 for a 5 day test with guaranteed results within 24hr, which also includes the time for your sample to be transported from clinic to test facility (unlike most) if you go to one of their clinics.

My understanding is that they are refunding the test because test to release isn’t required for little ones, it doesn’t mean they can be released without testing. If both parents are doing test to release it gives them the option of going out and about separately (or together if there is another household member who can provide childcare), it doesn’t mean that a little one is free to roam from the day the parent’s test results came back.

michael1234

Caz3121 said:

There is a variety of different tests
pre travel - no requirement for under 11's as per link above
test of day 2 and day 8 booked in advance does not apply for under 5's https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england - "Children under 5 do not need to take the day-2 or day-8 test"
Test to Release to end quarantine early with test on day 5 does not appear to state an age "You will need to book an individual test for each person opting into Test to Release, including children." https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel

That's a good and accurate reply. Of course on the last point the "including children" it is not crystal clear. Is a baby a child? Anyone who knows anything about kids will realise a tonsil swab would not be possible until the child is old enough to speak and understand.
There really ought to be consistency across the tests in this regard not least to enable people to get it right.

onashoestring

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel

It says in full 
“ You will have to pay the private test provider for your test. You will need to book an individual test for each person opting into Test to Release, including children of all ages.”

silvercar

michael1234 said:

Caz3121 said:

There is a variety of different tests
pre travel - no requirement for under 11's as per link above
test of day 2 and day 8 booked in advance does not apply for under 5's https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england - "Children under 5 do not need to take the day-2 or day-8 test"
Test to Release to end quarantine early with test on day 5 does not appear to state an age "You will need to book an individual test for each person opting into Test to Release, including children." https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel

That's a good and accurate reply. Of course on the last point the "including children" it is not crystal clear. Is a baby a child? Anyone who knows anything about kids will realise a tonsil swab would not be possible until the child is old enough to speak and understand.
There really ought to be consistency across the tests in this regard not least to enable people to get it right.

The test will work with a swab of both nostrils and that is what is recommended when you can’t do a throat swab for any reason.

michael1234

silvercar said:

michael1234 said:

Caz3121 said:

There is a variety of different tests
pre travel - no requirement for under 11's as per link above
test of day 2 and day 8 booked in advance does not apply for under 5's https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england - "Children under 5 do not need to take the day-2 or day-8 test"
Test to Release to end quarantine early with test on day 5 does not appear to state an age "You will need to book an individual test for each person opting into Test to Release, including children." https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel

That's a good and accurate reply. Of course on the last point the "including children" it is not crystal clear. Is a baby a child? Anyone who knows anything about kids will realise a tonsil swab would not be possible until the child is old enough to speak and understand.
There really ought to be consistency across the tests in this regard not least to enable people to get it right.

The test will work with a swab of both nostrils and that is what is recommended when you can’t do a throat swab for any reason.

Have you had to try it ? Unfortunately I have and the results came back as "unclear".

The reason is probably because for an adult the swab needs to be pushed back until it starts to hurt. For a baby it is quite difficult to know what that point is and if you have children you would know it is quite difficult to do something like that.

The fact that there are no less than three ages given for the various uses of the test (under 5, under 11 and "children of all ages") suggests to me it hasn't been thought through well enough by the government.

silvercar

michael1234 said:

silvercar said:

michael1234 said:

Caz3121 said:

There is a variety of different tests
pre travel - no requirement for under 11's as per link above
test of day 2 and day 8 booked in advance does not apply for under 5's https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england - "Children under 5 do not need to take the day-2 or day-8 test"
Test to Release to end quarantine early with test on day 5 does not appear to state an age "You will need to book an individual test for each person opting into Test to Release, including children." https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel

That's a good and accurate reply. Of course on the last point the "including children" it is not crystal clear. Is a baby a child? Anyone who knows anything about kids will realise a tonsil swab would not be possible until the child is old enough to speak and understand.
There really ought to be consistency across the tests in this regard not least to enable people to get it right.

The test will work with a swab of both nostrils and that is what is recommended when you can’t do a throat swab for any reason.

Have you had to try it ? Unfortunately I have and the results came back as "unclear".

That’s how I do all my LFTs. I’ve done over 20 that way and haven’t had a single “unclear”.

michael1234

silvercar said:

michael1234 said:

silvercar said:

michael1234 said:

Caz3121 said:

There is a variety of different tests
pre travel - no requirement for under 11's as per link above
test of day 2 and day 8 booked in advance does not apply for under 5's https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england - "Children under 5 do not need to take the day-2 or day-8 test"
Test to Release to end quarantine early with test on day 5 does not appear to state an age "You will need to book an individual test for each person opting into Test to Release, including children." https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-test-to-release-for-international-travel

That's a good and accurate reply. Of course on the last point the "including children" it is not crystal clear. Is a baby a child? Anyone who knows anything about kids will realise a tonsil swab would not be possible until the child is old enough to speak and understand.
There really ought to be consistency across the tests in this regard not least to enable people to get it right.

The test will work with a swab of both nostrils and that is what is recommended when you can’t do a throat swab for any reason.

Have you had to try it ? Unfortunately I have and the results came back as "unclear".

That’s how I do all my LFTs. I’ve done over 20 that way and haven’t had a single “unclear”.

Sorry, I was talking about trying to get a sample from a baby.

Anj4007

I took my 2 and 4 year old for PCR tests to fly this week and they told me they only needed to swab the inside of the cheeks to which they both complied. I was having nightmares about getting an accurate test if it had to go up the nostrils or back the throat. All went very smoothly. I am now looking online for test to release and most companies are saying they only test age 5 and over so I can’t physically get a test for them on day 5. If both my partner and myself test negative and can be released on day 6 then I think it’s quite explainable if they come knocking looking for 2 toddlers to be in isolation and the parents aren’t home that they don’t provide such a service lol 

silvercar

Anj4007 said:

I took my 2 and 4 year old for PCR tests to fly this week and they told me they only needed to swab the inside of the cheeks to which they both complied. I was having nightmares about getting an accurate test if it had to go up the nostrils or back the throat. All went very smoothly. I am now looking online for test to release and most companies are saying they only test age 5 and over so I can’t physically get a test for them on day 5. If both my partner and myself test negative and can be released on day 6 then I think it’s quite explainable if they come knocking looking for 2 toddlers to be in isolation and the parents aren’t home that they don’t provide such a service lol 

The idea is that the adults can go out separately, or if they live in a house with other adults, then the other adults could provide childcare.
Alternatively, you make the decision that only one or possibly neither of you bother paying for TTR. 

Choosing to do the TTR for all adults doesn’t give you permission for non tested people to end isolation, whatever their age.

sheramber

Surely, for 4 days you can go out separately.