Day 2 and 8 testing

Spendless

Hi

My teenage daughter is currently on hol in Greece. She has had 1 vaccine. She missed the 2nd vaccine by being  2 weeks short and ironically has had a text today to say she can book it (she was vaccinated early for her age group).

Anyway she needed a fit to fly test (we took her to Boots)

We bought her a test that's she's taken with her to Greece that she has to take there (72 hours or less before arrival back in U.K taking into account she has to get results back in time too)   

We purchased day 2 and day 8 tests to take when back. She needed the info from the day 2 box to put on her passenger locator form for returning to U.K. These are at our house, arrived before she went but has taken the code on them with her as needs writing on her PLF returning to UK

As she needs to release early (due to an exam) , we have just also  paid for the day 5 test to release early

Even if clear on day 5 she still needs to take day 8 test though as soon as she gets the all clear on day 5 she can end her quarantine. 

If Greece becomes amber plus you would need to do the above (except the day 5 which is an optional choice) even if fully vaccinated. 

If it remains as amber and you are fully vaccinated then you need the fit to fly test to get there, the test to fly back and the day 2 test bought in advance because the PLF requires the number from it.

Tbh I found it as confusing as hell and also expensive!

Ben1989

I don't mean to be pedantic but I just want to say the requirements for testing to come back to the UK is three days before departure to the UK, not 72 hours before arrival. 

So you can take a test at any point of the day three days prior to departing for the UK whereas if it were 72 hours prior arrival you'd have to take it after the time you were due to land in the UK (72 hours from then).

The official rules are a lot more lenient. Again, don't want to be pedantic but there is a significant difference and I've noticed a lot of people think it's 72 hours prior.

CKhalvashi

71peyman71 said:

Hi again.
I am totally confused about the number of tests I need. I am fully NHS vaccinated. I will stay in Greece 5 days. 
Do I need Day 2 only or Day 2 and 8 tests?

Thanks

At this time you only need day 2.

Spendless

Ben1989 said:

I don't mean to be pedantic but I just want to say the requirements for testing to come back to the UK is three days before departure to the UK, not 72 hours before arrival. 

So you can take a test at any point of the day three days prior to departing for the UK whereas if it were 72 hours prior arrival you'd have to take it after the time you were due to land in the UK (72 hours from then).

The official rules are a lot more lenient. Again, don't want to be pedantic but there is a significant difference and I've noticed a lot of people think it's 72 hours prior.

It's listed as 3 days before arrival then last night I saw another site (I want to say it was a Government one but my eyes were bogged down by then) which said 72 hours. I say 72 hours to be on the safe side.

Spendless

@Ben1989 - Knew I'd seen it somewhere.

Scroll down and you see this from this Government website

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

If you arrive in England without proof you tested negative for COVID-19 in the 72 hours before departure, you could be fined £500.

That's why I've told my teen no earlier than 72 hours. The tests have cost enough. Not risking spending more money.

71peyman71

Thanks all. I think this issue of 72 hours prior vs 3 days before is more to do with people thinking they are the same thing and not bothering to consider the detailed implications of it like you have here.

I am flying back next Friday, so I should take the test on the Tuesday. Given that I am only going out there on Sunday, it makes a mockery of the whole process but hey, it is what it is.

71peyman71

On another note, I really don't think they will turn Greece and Spain to Amber Plus at this stage. It will affect millions of people with holidays and their return to work, will cause huge chaos, and of course has political cost. 

If they do, they will wait until the end of August when most are back from holiday.

Spendless

How long is your turnaround for getting the test result back from your test to enable you to fly home? Daughter's is within 12 hours so I've told her to take this evening to get back in plenty of time for flying home. 

71peyman71

Spendless said:

How long is your turnaround for getting the test result back from your test to enable you to fly home? Daughter's is within 12 hours so I've told her to take this evening to get back in plenty of time for flying home. 

I have located a number of labs in Athens and usually they return the result within a few hours. Some even come to your hotel and do it there. Some hotels even have test companies on site. It's big business now. Here are some companies I was recommended:

https://covidtest.gr/index.php/el/

https://www.kalikamed.com/index.php/en/

Ben1989

Spendless said:

@Ben1989 - Knew I'd seen it somewhere.

Scroll down and you see this from this Government website

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

If you arrive in England without proof you tested negative for COVID-19 in the 72 hours before departure, you could be fined £500.

That's why I've told my teen no earlier than 72 hours. The tests have cost enough. Not risking spending more money.

I think that is an error. Here is what it says from the travelling to England dedicated page (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england)

Take a coronavirus test before you travel to England

You must have proof of a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test to travel to England.

You must take a test even if:

• you’ve been fully vaccinated
• you’re traveling from a country or territory on the green list
• you’re a UK citizen

You must take the test in the 3 days before the service on which you will arrive in England departs.

For example, if you travel directly to England on Friday, you can take the test on or after Tuesday and will need to have the negative result available before boarding on Friday.