Government brings back PCR tests and isolation requirements for travellers returning to the UK

emmajones1976

No, the UK is not a prison, they can leave whenever they like, the fact they have posted it off but the result hasnt come back yet isnt their problem.

People can leave the Red list quarantine hotels to go back to an airport and leave the country, remember.

soolin

Mattie627 said:

I have family coming from Austria to Wales for Christmas.  They arrive 5pm on 24th December and return at 10am on 28th.  I guess this means they have to take a test on Boxing Day (being day 2 after arrival) but there is no postal service so we are unable to post back until 27th so they are unlikely to get results back before they go home.  Do they need a negative result before they can travel back and how is that possible within this short time frame over the Christmas period?  How does this work with isolation etc?  I am really confused and there is nothing I can find on Government website that covers this specifically. 

The test can be taken any time up to day 2, so they can, if they wish, take it as soon as they arrive - although I accept that doesn't help with the postal situation over Christmas! As has already been answered though they can leave the country again without waiting for the result (which is why I think this new system is frankly not fit for purpose and is merely to show that Something Is Being Done, rather than to have any real benefit)

However, they must quarantine when they arrive and until they get a negative result , how that will work I'm not sure- if they are staying with you then I assume they can quarantine with you until their return (how that affects your own situation I am unclear) - but shouldn't be mixing or going out. If in a hotel then the rules suggest they should stay there and not make any visits at all. Whether they will be checked , followed up or left to their own devices is anyones guess now.

emmajones1976

I would suggest the chances of anyone being "checked" physically over Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and Boxing Day is near nil.

onashoestring

The rules are on the Gov.wales website https://gov.wales/travelling-wales-if-you-are-fully-vaccinated-coronavirus

The same rules apply regardless of bank Holidays etc which are :

Take a PCR test , they must self-isolate until they receive a negative PCR test result, after which they can leave isolation.

Day 2 test can be taken on the day they arrive - ( Day 0 ) or Day 1 . Day 2 is the latest that they can take it- they must isolate until a negative test result is received . 

So quite likely will need to isolate for the whole holiday if they haven’t had a negative result back . 

You could look for an on-site test provider who may get the results back more quickly , however I don’t know how many of these are available in Wales and will be open over the Bank holidays.

The rules are being reviewed in 3 weeks so the situation may be different by the time of their planned trip .

They will not be stopped by UK from returning if they haven’t had a negative test result back , however they will need to follow the laws of Austria for their return , which at present require a negative test if you are not vaccinated .

villagelife

Emmajones1976 that is my thoughts especially as didn't tell him where I was going.

Mattie627 they can take test on day they arrive as it is by day 2 and would perhaps need to take it at airport when they arrive.

emmajones1976

villagelife said:

Emmajones1976 that is my thoughts especially as didn't tell him where I was going.

Mattie627 they can take test on day they arrive as it is by day 2 and would perhaps need to take it at airport when they arrive.

Which airport are they arriving at? I can imagine come 5pm at Xmas eve, and especially given the half hour or so it will take for them to get through the baggage hall etc, all your testing options may have closed.

soolin

emmajones1976 said:

villagelife said:

Emmajones1976 that is my thoughts especially as didn't tell him where I was going.

Mattie627 they can take test on day they arrive as it is by day 2 and would perhaps need to take it at airport when they arrive.

Which airport are they arriving at? I can imagine come 5pm at Xmas eve, and especially given the half hour or so it will take for them to get through the baggage hall etc, all your testing options may have closed.

Or prohibitively expensive. 

ZaSa1418

My daughter is in Mexico and bought her lft before she left, when the rules changed she changed it to a PCR and the company only charged her the difference. 

PCR test costs will just have to be put into the budget for people's holidays. I think it would be much easier to stick to the testing for everyone, less likely to spread it over the globe that way

soolin

ZaSa1418 said:

My daughter is in Mexico and bought her lft before she left, when the rules changed she changed it to a PCR and the company only charged her the difference. 

PCR test costs will just have to be put into the budget for people's holidays. I think it would be much easier to stick to the testing for everyone, less likely to spread it over the globe that way

I suppose it’s just lucky that I can’t pass on COVID as I use the train , underground and bus from the airport to home!  The last time I travelled back from the airport by Public transport it took me hours as they closed a tube line and had to get coaches to take us to the outer parts of the tube line. It was standing room only as we were just within the rush hour period. 

silvercar

Mattie627 said:

I have family coming from Austria to Wales for Christmas.  They arrive 5pm on 24th December and return at 10am on 28th.  I guess this means they have to take a test on Boxing Day (being day 2 after arrival) but there is no postal service so we are unable to post back until 27th so they are unlikely to get results back before they go home.  Do they need a negative result before they can travel back and how is that possible within this short time frame over the Christmas period?  How does this work with isolation etc?  I am really confused and there is nothing I can find on Government website that covers this specifically. 

So they need to isolate from when they arrive until the results of the test or to travel to leave the country.

In practical terms, if they stay with friends or family they shouldn't go out, but the other household members can come and go as they please. In fact the friends or family they are staying with could host a whole christmas party if they wanted to.

If they are staying on their own then they are stuck in that place for the duration.

If they test positive for omicron then they and any of their contacts need to isolate for 10 days.