Why are pcr still mandatory on day 2?

javixeneize

With omicron being the dominant variant, what is the point of keep enforcing pcrs on day 2 instead of lft, and even worst, why isolation is still needed until you have the results?

it made sense one month ago to prevent the spread of the variant from external countries, but I don’t think it does anymore, unless somebody is making a huge profit with this…

are there any plans to move back to lft as a day 2 test?

lisyloo

Perhaps hospitals with critical incidents and education are priorities over travellers?

cx6

https://twitter.com/PPaulCharles/status/1477920586177335296

jimi_man

There aren’t any really. I imagine it will change back to LFT - hopefully fairly soon. 

emmajones1976

What I would be interested to know is has there been any evidence, either documented or anecdotal from someone on this forum, of people being checked on at home in the gap between landing and getting their negative test, or was it all the usual bluster from the Government knowing fine rightly they had no resources to do so?

cx6

I certainly wasn't (it took 4 days to get the result back from Boots)

jimi_man

No. In fact I know a number of people who don’t bother with them. They reuse the code for the PLF. No-one checks up. No-one is interested. 

michael1234

lisyloo said:

Perhaps hospitals with critical incidents and education are priorities over travellers?

Largely down to staff having to isolate because they have tested positive and less to do with patients on oxygen filling wards and ICUs as with previous waves.

CKhalvashi

cx6 said:

https://twitter.com/PPaulCharles/status/1477920586177335296

Take everything he says with a pinch of salt. He's been very wrong a lot of the time and isn't qualified to make such statements.

I'd welcome this, but don't think it'll happen.

Butts

emmajones1976 said:

What I would be interested to know is has there been any evidence, either documented or anecdotal from someone on this forum, of people being checked on at home in the gap between landing and getting their negative test, or was it all the usual bluster from the Government knowing fine rightly they had no resources to do so?

Three trips abroad in December no checks on any of them in the period between landing and getting the negative result.

What I am curious about is whether the testing company inform the NHS or anyone else if you test positive. The system does not seem to be joined up.

onashoestring

Butts said:

What I am curious about is whether the testing company inform the NHS or anyone else if you test positive. The system does not seem to be joined up.

Yes that is a requirement of the Day 2 test providers to upload all the results positive, negative and inconclusive  to PHE along with all the personal details and flight details. They also have to report daily how many tests they have sold and any cancellations. 

8. Reporting of coronavirus test results, as a notifiable disease

The provider must have a system in place for reporting positive, negative and inconclusive test results cases in accordance with their obligations under public health legislation. All results of tests for this purpose must be reported within 24 hours of them receiving evidence of the test result.

At booking, the provider (or subcontractor, if relevant) must have a system in place to collect the following data fields from international arrivals:

In relation to the person being tested:

• first name
• surname
• sex
• date of birth
• NHS number
• ethnicity
• home address (including postcode)
• the address provided to the test provider as the place where the international arrival is able to receive a confirmatory test
• telephone number (only in the case of SARS-CoV-2 positive or indeterminate results)
• email address (only in the case of SARS-CoV-2 positive or indeterminate results)
• whether or not the individual has received a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

Together with data required to be reported under public health legislation, the provider (or their subcontractor, if relevant) will need to have a system in place to collect from the international arrival and report the following additional data fields:

• their coach number, flight number or vessel name (as appropriate)
• the date on which they last departed from or transited through a country or territory outside the common travel area
• the country or territory they were travelling from when they arrived in the UK, and any country or territory they transited through as part of that journey
• test booking reference
• the date of their arrival in the UK
• confirmation that the test complies, and was undertaken in accordance, with the requirements applicable under the International Travel and Operator Liability Regulations
• confirmation that the test is a lateral flow device test undertaken by an eligible traveller
• where the test provider did not administer sample collection services (that is, take the swab), the date and time that the test provider received evidence of the test result

In relation to the test:

• name of the test provider and a description of its operations
• test result code (such as COVID-19 +ve/-ve or influenza A +ve/-ve)
• specimen identification number
• specimen type
• specimen date
• date the test was performed
• test method (lateral flow test)
• name of the testing equipment manufacturer