Mandatory day 2 pcr - since when?

zagfles

eskbanker said:

michael1234 said:

Alan_Bowen said:

Yes, things are changing rapidly around the world. KLM had two flights back to Amsterdam from SA whose passengers were not allowed off the planes for over 4 hours whilst testing arrangements were set up. All had supposedly had negative tests in SA before boarding, 61 tested positive on arrival...Switzerland is reported to be considering compulsory 10-day quarantine for all arrivals from all destinations. If this is correct, it is effectively closing the borders, although, with most arrivals by rail or road, it is going to be much harder to enforce if this rumour is correct.

Is that confirmed? I'd assumed they wouldn't need to have had tests as they were on route to the UK which doesn't require tests before boarding.

What makes you suggest that all these ~600 people flying from South Africa to the Netherlands were en route to the UK?

Plus on transit you usually need to comply with the COVID rules of the country you're transitting through, even if you don't officially "enter" that country. 

michael1234

eskbanker said:

michael1234 said:

Alan_Bowen said:

Yes, things are changing rapidly around the world. KLM had two flights back to Amsterdam from SA whose passengers were not allowed off the planes for over 4 hours whilst testing arrangements were set up. All had supposedly had negative tests in SA before boarding, 61 tested positive on arrival...Switzerland is reported to be considering compulsory 10-day quarantine for all arrivals from all destinations. If this is correct, it is effectively closing the borders, although, with most arrivals by rail or road, it is going to be much harder to enforce if this rumour is correct.

Is that confirmed? I'd assumed they wouldn't need to have had tests as they were on route to the UK which doesn't require tests before boarding.

What makes you suggest that all these ~600 people flying from South Africa to the Netherlands were en route to the UK?

Thought I'd read it somewhere.

michael1234

oh yes, here it is:

Passengers travelling from South Africa to the UK via Amsterdam told the BBC that they were held on the tarmac at Schiphol airport for four hours, before eventually disembarking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59451103

zagfles

michael1234 said:

oh yes, here it is:

Passengers travelling from South Africa to the UK via Amsterdam told the BBC that they were held on the tarmac at Schiphol airport for four hours, before eventually disembarking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59451103

Some would have been transiting to the UK, probably a small minority, but even they would likely have had to comply with Netherlands COVID rules.

emmajones1976

zagfles said:

michael1234 said:

oh yes, here it is:

Passengers travelling from South Africa to the UK via Amsterdam told the BBC that they were held on the tarmac at Schiphol airport for four hours, before eventually disembarking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59451103

Some would have been transiting to the UK, probably a small minority, but even they would likely have had to comply with Netherlands COVID rules.

Depends. I went to Holland last weekend and at not one point of my journey, from walking into Manchester Airport to leaving Schiphol, was I asked for proof of my negative test.  Plenty would have winged it and not bothered (especially if transiting to a country where one wasnt needed), they arent going to wander round airside and be asked to produce it.

zagfles

emmajones1976 said:

zagfles said:

michael1234 said:

oh yes, here it is:

Passengers travelling from South Africa to the UK via Amsterdam told the BBC that they were held on the tarmac at Schiphol airport for four hours, before eventually disembarking.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59451103

Some would have been transiting to the UK, probably a small minority, but even they would likely have had to comply with Netherlands COVID rules.

Depends. I went to Holland last weekend and at not one point of my journey, from walking into Manchester Airport to leaving Schiphol, was I asked for proof of my negative test.  Plenty would have winged it and not bothered (especially if transiting to a country where one wasnt needed), they arent going to wander round airside and be asked to produce it.

The airline would likely have denied them boarding if they hadn't done what was required by the country they were flying to. At least they have done on all the flights I've taken this year, the airline checks you've complied with the rules of the country you're flying to. Maybe it doesn't always happen, but who wants to be be denied boarding at the airport for the sake of a test/bit of paperwork?

onashoestring

R3dders said:

Thanks onashoestring for the link.  The government website is yet to be updated as the last update was on 25th November before the latest announcement.  It was always before day 2.  Im interested as it may be that the government will change this to On day 2 to allow the virus to be detected after travelling as it may not show up if the test is taken immediately upon arrival.  

@R3dders the passenger locator form section of the gov website has now been updated - which is where this link is from … https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

onashoestring

Gov website has been updated today 

PCR tests and self-isolating from 4am 30 November

From 4am 30 November, lateral flow tests will not be accepted. You must arrange to take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after you arrive.

You must self-isolate in your home or the place you are staying until you receive your test result.

If your PCR test results are delayed, you must self-isolate until your test result is known or until day 14 after arrival, whichever is sooner

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

onashoestring

zagfles said:

Some would have been transiting to the UK, probably a small minority…

Maybe more than usual since all direct flights from SA to UK have been banned, travellers trying to get back to UK are taking whatever routes they can to get back before the rules change and to avoid paying for the UK hotel quarantine. 

eskbanker

onashoestring said:

zagfles said:

Some would have been transiting to the UK, probably a small minority…

As all direct flights from SA to UK have been banned, travellers are taking whatever routes they can to get back to UK before the rules change and to avoid paying for the hotel quarantine. 

The KLM flights concerned had arrived in Amsterdam before direct flights from South Africa to the UK were banned....