Grant Shapps - People can start thinking about foreign travel

pjcox2005

Seems relatively sensible but surprised it's not lateral flow test for all being cheaper and quicker result if people need to isolate. For those testing positive then add a PCR test so they can identify any strain but I'm expecting those numbers could be quite low come June/July and particularly so for those vaccinated who currently will still need to take PCR tests.

Surely that takes pressure of the labs so the important PCR tests come back sooner.

Butts

epm-84 said:

andygb said:

the USA 

While I understand it would be a lot of work to have do the traffic light system on a regional basis rather than a country basis, with the USA, Canada and Australia it would make sense to look at an exception.

Well The tiny Channel Islands do exactly that for UK Arrivals and they are open from April 26th.

Regarding the cost of Tests I don't think they'll be anywhere near the £100 plus being bandied about once it get's going.

More like £50 or less I predict.

od244051

Why can’t people allow to use the various testing centres? They are encouraging people to get LF tests twice a week.

epm-84

Butts said:

epm-84 said:

andygb said:

the USA 

While I understand it would be a lot of work to have do the traffic light system on a regional basis rather than a country basis, with the USA, Canada and Australia it would make sense to look at an exception.

Well The tiny Channel Islands do exactly that for UK Arrivals and they are open from April 26th.

Regarding the cost of Tests I don't think they'll be anywhere near the £100 plus being bandied about once it get's going.

More like £50 or less I predict.

You'll need to get one test before returning to the UK, so that will depend on how much they cost in Spain, Italy, Greece etc. not what price they are in the UK.  There's a suggestion that package operators like TUI could bulk buy tests to bring down the cost but the same package operators are strongly against testing for people returning from green countries, so it may not be in their best interests to help bring down the cost too much.

epm-84

od244051 said:

Why can’t people allow to use the various testing centres? They are encouraging people to get LF tests twice a week.

Government has decided PCR tests for those returning from abroad.  Apparently so they can track any variants which might emerge.


If you decide to get a LF test and it gives a positive result then you then are supposed to book a PCR test to confirm the result.

Butts

epm-84 said:

Butts said:

epm-84 said:

andygb said:

the USA 

While I understand it would be a lot of work to have do the traffic light system on a regional basis rather than a country basis, with the USA, Canada and Australia it would make sense to look at an exception.

Well The tiny Channel Islands do exactly that for UK Arrivals and they are open from April 26th.

Regarding the cost of Tests I don't think they'll be anywhere near the £100 plus being bandied about once it get's going.

More like £50 or less I predict.

You'll need to get one test before returning to the UK, so that will depend on how much they cost in Spain, Italy, Greece etc. not what price they are in the UK.  There's a suggestion that package operators like TUI could bulk buy tests to bring down the cost but the same package operators are strongly against testing for people returning from green countries, so it may not be in their best interests to help bring down the cost too much.

I think this demonstrates the urgent need for a Vaccination Passport which should go some way to eliminating all this testing nonsense.

epm-84

Butts said:

epm-84 said:

Butts said:

epm-84 said:

andygb said:

the USA 

While I understand it would be a lot of work to have do the traffic light system on a regional basis rather than a country basis, with the USA, Canada and Australia it would make sense to look at an exception.

Well The tiny Channel Islands do exactly that for UK Arrivals and they are open from April 26th.

Regarding the cost of Tests I don't think they'll be anywhere near the £100 plus being bandied about once it get's going.

More like £50 or less I predict.

You'll need to get one test before returning to the UK, so that will depend on how much they cost in Spain, Italy, Greece etc. not what price they are in the UK.  There's a suggestion that package operators like TUI could bulk buy tests to bring down the cost but the same package operators are strongly against testing for people returning from green countries, so it may not be in their best interests to help bring down the cost too much.

I think this demonstrates the urgent need for a Vaccination Passport which should go some way to eliminating all this testing nonsense.

The report indicates they looked at those who have been vaccinated not needing tests when returning from green countries but decided against it at this stage as those who are vaccinated can still carry the virus.

Westin

epm-84 said:

The report indicates they looked at those who have been vaccinated not needing tests when returning from green countries but decided against it at this stage as those who are vaccinated can still carry the virus.

And yet it seems the American's have taken the opposite view point. The USA’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges those who have had both vaccinations as low risk and therefore will not need to meet the same criteria on testing or quarantine. 

From the Daily Telegraph who reported on this:
"The CDC also admitted that people who are two weeks past their second vaccine jab no longer need a coronavirus test before or after trips, nor do they need to self-quarantine after travel, unless it is required by a state or local jurisdiction."

Butts

Westin said:

epm-84 said:

The report indicates they looked at those who have been vaccinated not needing tests when returning from green countries but decided against it at this stage as those who are vaccinated can still carry the virus.

And yet it seems the American's have taken the opposite view point. The USA’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges those who have had both vaccinations as low risk and therefore will not need to meet the same criteria on testing or quarantine. 

From the Daily Telegraph who reported on this:
"The CDC also admitted that people who are two weeks past their second vaccine jab no longer need a coronavirus test before or after trips, nor do they need to self-quarantine after travel, unless it is required by a state or local jurisdiction."

1-0 to the USA !!

This shows the need for an International Standard as with Yellow Fever et al.

Thrugelmir

epm-84 said:

Short breaks to Europe are likely to be too expensive for many due to the testing requirements, regardless of whether the country has a green traffic light and regardless of whether you've been vaccinated.

Until Europe gets it's vaccination programme up to speed. Then all rather premature. Across much of Europe the challenge of vaccine scepticism has to be overcome. Until it is then the concern must be that further mutations will evolve.