Negative Covid test required for everyone arriving into BA's UK mainland airports
 

http://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-i...enter-12181938

UK nationals not exempt as per earlier reports. No info as yet on when this comes into effect.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-55582116

Airlines are now used to screen pax on departures based on predeparture requirements. My guess is that anyone without a test will be denied boarding rather than allowed to board with a 500 fine.
What is interesting is that this also applies to boat and car arrivals. It would suggest that anyone would be allowed to enter by just paying the fine. It could also be that boat and tunnel operators might deny access without the test. Will be a big mess at first.

Bloomberg is saying the measures will be implemented from next week.

More details from the DfT here, but the summary above is in line with the new restrictions.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/m...order-measures

About ###### time!

The latter part of the new regs is odd "There will be a limited number of exemptions, including for hauliers, children under 11, crews and for those who travelling from countries without the infrastructure available to deliver the tests." You can understand the logic, but surely such travellers should be subject to a test upon arrival?

I know we're talking about the DfT but considering that next week is only, what, 4 days away a little bit more detail wouldn't go amiss. Things like:

1) What kind of test they want (throat-nose PCR swab, antigen, saliva, lateral flow?)
2) How do they want the results to be presented (a .pdf, an SMS, a printed proof?)
3) What kind of language they want the test in (getting a test in English in places like France-Spain-Italy-Germany-Hungary-younameit isn't as easy as getting a test in the local lingo)

That would be the logic way to do it and, by the way, it's what Portugal does for Madeira (and I suspect other places but I'd only checked there). But, then again, we're almost a year into this crisis, we've spent the first 5 months with no testing and no quarantine required so... baby steps. But world-beating baby steps.

How is this going to work for passengers using BA for transit?

Say for example I’m flying DXB-LHR-DUB, Will BA be bothered to check in DXB or is this requirement also for transit passengers? And if not, what if I flew DXB-LHR-BHD and then just drove home to DUB?

Just had the misfortune of watching Grant Shapps on Breakfast, with a book on his library shelf, Grant Shapps ... He didn't know that the Welsh Government have said they are not looking to implement this, couldn't answer questions about transit and there was no questions about exceptions. Given that HMG have kind of accepted that children can get CV-19 and spread it, why on earth are under-11s exempt

He also thought his original ideas were better

Well I'm due to enter the UK Sunday from France, I guess "start of the week" means Monday otherwise they may be trouble ahead...

I think all DUB flights are suspended until the 8th of Jan. It’s government organised repatriation only. NI seems to be exempt from the rules, for now and the chances of being stopped on the borer are Zero, a PLF is not required from NI. Gardaí do have road blacks and spot checks.

I haven’t seen mention of transit passengers.

Don't you need a negative covid cert to leave Dubai anyway?

I think it makes perfect sense. I would have no problem getting tested before sitting on a plane to go anywhere. It would least give me a partial feeling of safetly knowing that everyone around me recently tested negative. I hope they also test the crew as well.

a stable door and a horse come to mind.

Hi,

And you still have to quarantine on return to the uk

Regards

Tbs