Covid tests for children when returning to England after a holiday

ScottHart

I have a query regarding getting children tested for Covid when returning to England after a holiday.

The following page on Gov.uk shows the rules for taking tests before arriving back in England.  It states "Children aged under 11 do not need to take a test."

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

However, this page on Gov.uk shows the rules for taking the day 2 and day 8 tests after you have arrived back in England.  It states "Day 2 and day 8 PCR tests under 5s are exempt"

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england

So, assuming our holiday goes ahead, and its on the Amber list (we are hopefully going to Mexico in July) am I right in thinking that my 8 year old daughter won't need to take a Lateral Flow test before leaving Mexico, but would need to have the day 2 and day 8 PCR tests when we're back in England?

MattMattMattUK

ScottHart said:

I have a query regarding getting children tested for Covid when returning to England after a holiday.

The following page on Gov.uk shows the rules for taking tests before arriving back in England.  It states "Children aged under 11 do not need to take a test."

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england

However, this page on Gov.uk shows the rules for taking the day 2 and day 8 tests after you have arrived back in England.  It states "Day 2 and day 8 PCR tests under 5s are exempt"

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england

So, assuming our holiday goes ahead, and its on the Amber list (we are hopefully going to Mexico in July) am I right in thinking that my 8 year old daughter won't need to take a Lateral Flow test before leaving Mexico, but would need to have the day 2 and day 8 PCR tests when we're back in England?

That would be my reading of it, provided that the rules do not change again, and that Mexico stays amber rather than going red. 

michael1234

And to add to the utter confusion on the test to release page it says children need a test without specifying age. So do new-borns need to have their tonsils swabbed too? Utter madness and inconsistency.

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

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.

Thrugelmir

michael1234 said:

And to add to the utter confusion on the test to release page it says children need a test without specifying age. So do new-borns need to have their tonsils swabbed too? Utter madness and inconsistency.

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

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.

Given the website was last updated over 2 months ago. Perfectly reasonable. Minimising imported mutations remains key.  If you don't want to self isolate for 10 days. 

sheramber

michael1234 said:

And to add to the utter confusion on the test to release page it says children need a test without specifying age. So do new-borns need to have their tonsils swabbed too? Utter madness and inconsistency.

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

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.

Are there many newborns coming into UK?

silvercar

michael1234 said:

And to add to the utter confusion on the test to release page it says children need a test without specifying age. So do new-borns need to have their tonsils swabbed too? Utter madness and inconsistency.

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

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.

Quite reasonable and money saving to only do test and release for those in the family that need to leave the home eg one parent going out to work and the remaining household members stay isolating until they get their day 8 test results and have completed 10 days.

greyteam1959

Madness even considering going to a country like Mexico under the current situation.

epm-84

michael1234 said:

And to add to the utter confusion on the test to release page it says

The test to release scheme is a way of avoiding a 10 day self-isolation period, if you don't like the policy your children can self-isolate for the full 10 days.