The end of pcr tests ?

silvercar

Sandtree said:

silvercar said:

I would think most people’s stress levels are increased by the antigen test to travel home, rather than the test once you are home. If you’ve got covid you’ve got covid, but better to have it in the comfort of your own home rather than overseas with the extra stress of not knowing when you can actually travel home.

And infect everyone else on the plane on the way back?

My prediction is that test before flying will remain, because of the above, but the PCR test on day 2 will be scrapped for those that are fully vaccinated... maybe replaced by antigen test? Certainly there will be a new give for vaccinated people to further encourage take up.

Personally, more interested in what happens to red countries/rules.

I agree that does risk infecting people on the plane, but the air filtration system on a plane is very good, shame the hoards we see at border control at airports is more worrying.
 
I think the thought process is that people without symptoms are happier to travel without taking a test, so they don't know if they have covid, than go through the worry of waiting to see if their return will be messed up by a positive test result. It is the same with going to any event; people don't test because they don't want to see a positive result and their plans altered. Ten times worse if you are overseas and have to pay out for accommodation, sort out your plans, worry about when exactly you will test negative etc

michael1234

Sandtree said:

silvercar said:

I would think most people’s stress levels are increased by the antigen test to travel home, rather than the test once you are home. If you’ve got covid you’ve got covid, but better to have it in the comfort of your own home rather than overseas with the extra stress of not knowing when you can actually travel home.

And infect everyone else on the plane on the way back?

My prediction is that test before flying will remain, because of the above, but the PCR test on day 2 will be scrapped for those that are fully vaccinated... maybe replaced by antigen test? Certainly there will be a new give for vaccinated people to further encourage take up.

Personally, more interested in what happens to red countries/rules.

But isn't that the case for many other internal UK situations? Getting on a tube, visiting a pub etc? If the passenger is coming from a country with similar or( far more likely right now) less prevalence of the disease why subject him/her to any more stress?

The time to restrict movement at borders was when we were in serious lockdown a year ago or so but we ended up with a situation with people not allowed to leave their homes for most purposes but inward international travel continuing. That was wrong and we should have sealed the border at that time especially as we knew less then than we know now.

Sandtree

michael1234 said:

Sandtree said:

silvercar said:

I would think most people’s stress levels are increased by the antigen test to travel home, rather than the test once you are home. If you’ve got covid you’ve got covid, but better to have it in the comfort of your own home rather than overseas with the extra stress of not knowing when you can actually travel home.

And infect everyone else on the plane on the way back?

My prediction is that test before flying will remain, because of the above, but the PCR test on day 2 will be scrapped for those that are fully vaccinated... maybe replaced by antigen test? Certainly there will be a new give for vaccinated people to further encourage take up.

Personally, more interested in what happens to red countries/rules.

But isn't that the case for many other internal UK situations? Getting on a tube, visiting a pub etc? If the passenger is coming from a country with similar or( far more likely right now) less prevalence of the disease why subject him/her to any more stress?

The time to restrict movement at borders was when we were in serious lockdown a year ago or so but we ended up with a situation with people not allowed to leave their homes for most purposes but inward international travel continuing. That was wrong and we should have sealed the border at that time especially as we knew less then than we know now.

The issue of overseas travel is bringing back foreign virus which can happen in both high and low infection rate countries, just more likely in high infection. Going to the pub/tube etc just further circulates what is already here which we predominately consider to be well defended by the vaccines... obviously as with the "Kent" variety, we are able to mutate our own new versions but still better to stop others coming in too. 

As to stress for the traveller (speaking as someone who has travelled over the last 18 months), you know the rules and if you think it'll be too stressful for you then maybe now isnt the right time for you to be travelling. 

Fully agree the door was shut after the horse had bolted but that doesnt mean you should leave it open so the others can get out (or in in this case) now.

superbigal

As a money saving site no one should be advocating these Tory Mates taxes.

Sandtree

superbigal said:

As a money saving site no one should be advocating these Tory Mates taxes.

That depends on if you believe the tests have prevented worse infection rates either by directly catching them and/or putting people off from travelling in the first place.

Given this site is about price not value, people not going on holidays either in fear of the virus or costs/complexity of tests etc probably does outweigh the amount spent on testing and so has been a net money saver.

If you believe the testing directly or indirectly has reduced infection rates from what they would have been with open borders then protecting incomes via having businesses open and people working rather than furloughed has both increased monies in the pocket and prevent the inflationary impacts being worse than they already are.

Thrugelmir

michael1234 said:

Sandtree said:

silvercar said:

I would think most people’s stress levels are increased by the antigen test to travel home, rather than the test once you are home. If you’ve got covid you’ve got covid, but better to have it in the comfort of your own home rather than overseas with the extra stress of not knowing when you can actually travel home.

And infect everyone else on the plane on the way back?

My prediction is that test before flying will remain, because of the above, but the PCR test on day 2 will be scrapped for those that are fully vaccinated... maybe replaced by antigen test? Certainly there will be a new give for vaccinated people to further encourage take up.

Personally, more interested in what happens to red countries/rules.

 If the passenger is coming from a country with similar or( far more likely right now) less prevalence of the disease why subject him/her to any more stress?

The passenger concerned doesn't appear unduely concerned to have travelled in the first place. Why are they going to get stressed over a test. The winter will no doubt bring another wave to Europe once people move indoors . 

[Deleted User]

Thrugelmir said:

Simple measure. Why stop it? 

It's not exactly rocket science - testing costs a lot of money, it puts people off travelling, it's damaging the travel industry as a result, it's putting those who do have to regularly travel for a legitimate reason in a bind, etc. It's been particularly bad in the UK because the testing has been extortionate in comparison to other countries.

Now all of that (pricing aside) is fine if it's necessary on health grounds, but it's become apparent from what other countries are doing that the benefits of this approach are pretty minimal.

unforeseen

I note that the 'experts' on TV keep mentioning that the PCR tests need to stay for gene sequencing, even though only about 5% are actually tested .

Fine, let them stay but make them free if that is what they are wanted for. 

silvercar

unforeseen said:

I note that the 'experts' on TV keep mentioning that the PCR tests need to stay for gene sequencing, even though only about 5% are actually tested .

Fine, let them stay but make them free if that is what they are wanted for. 

 Nothing is ever free, someone is paying. If you choose to travel, why shouldn’t you pay? Why should the rest of us taxpayers pay?

I’ve had 2 holidays in the last year, I think it totally reasonable that I pay for the associated tests.

unforeseen

If the primary reason (as would appear from what the 'experts' say) is for gene sequencing then why should the traveller pay? They want the data then they pay for it.