Jun 4, 2020, 5:57 am
Last edit by: NewbieRunner
Mod note on thread engagement:
A reminder that this thread is about the self-isolation requirements for UK arrivals.
It is a help/Information resource for those travelling or returning to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from outside the UK. Let's concentrate on news, questions and answers that are relevant and on-topic and stay away from speculations about the spread of the virus, the performance of politicians and other topics which are more suitable for OMNI.
Please stay within these requirements to avoid issues.
A reminder that this thread is about the self-isolation requirements for UK arrivals.
It is a help/Information resource for those travelling or returning to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland from outside the UK. Let's concentrate on news, questions and answers that are relevant and on-topic and stay away from speculations about the spread of the virus, the performance of politicians and other topics which are more suitable for OMNI.
Please stay within these requirements to avoid issues.
LATEST UPDATES
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-t...virus-covid-19
18 March travel to the UK changes
If you will arrive in the UK from abroad after 4am, Friday 18 March, you do not need to:
- take any COVID-19 tests – before you travel or after you arrive
- fill in a UK passenger locator form before you travel
This will apply whether you are vaccinated or not.
You also will not need to quarantine when you arrive, in line with current rules.
Other countries still have COVID-19 entry rules in place. You should check travel advice before you travel.
If you will arrive in England before 4am, 18 March, you must follow the current rules as set out in this guidance.
*****
The following historical information is retained for the time being.
The Passenger Locator Form for passengers arriving into the UK can be found here:
https://visas-immigration.service.go...r-locator-form
This can only be completed once you are within 48 hours of arrival in the UK.
Exemption list from quarantine requirements - specific details:
https://www.gov.uk/government/public...k-border-rules
England
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to England: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2021/582/contents (this html version is updated, but may not have the very latest updates for Statutory Instruments released in the last few days)
Test to release for England only from 15 December, see post 4776 https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/32841066-post4776.html
Statutory instrument for transport providers http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2.../contents/made
Scotland
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to Scotland: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/169/contents (this html version is updated)
Wales
Statutory instrument for individual passengers arriving in to Wales: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2020/574/contents (this html version is updated) &
Welsh language version: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2...0200574_we.pdf
Northern Ireland
Statutory instrument https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2021/99/contents (this html version is updated)
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR QUICK RELEASE FROM SELF-ISOLATION (based on November 28th updates)
[This section has been moved lower down in the wiki post following the change in self-isolation rule on 7th January 2022[
Any PCR test noted as a UK Government Day 2 test will be accepted for release from self isolation as soon as you get the negative result. If it is any other PCR test (eg "Fit to Fly") and not advertised specifically as a Day 2 test then it won't be valid.
This means that you can:[list]
- Book a suitable Day 2 PCR test before you travel and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF (Passenger Locator Form).
- On your day of arrival go to your scheduled test.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
Alternatively:- Book any Day 2 PCR test before you travel even if you do not intend to use this test, and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF to ensure entry to the UK.
- Note that you are not strictly required to have a PCR booking before arrival, but your carrier might not know that so you run the risk of being denied boarding
- On your day of arrival (or before end of Day 2) go to a walk-in test centre and take a different test to the one you booked.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
If you are leaving the UK before the end of day 2 then you do not need to take a test, but are required to self-isolate for the duration of your trip (since you do not have a negative result). Also, if you are self-isolating while waiting for a result (and hence have not been informed of a positive result and need to isolate) you may travel to leave the country.
If you take a test and it is positive for any variant of COVID you will be required to isolate for 10 days from the date of the test.
Whether you take a test or not you may be contacted by the UK Test and Trace system at any time if it becomes apparent that you have been in contact with another case. This is very unlikely to happen before day 3 if it is in relation to your flight to UK. Depending on the suspected / identified variant for that case and if you are fully-vaccinated by an accepted programme (see below for links to what this means and valid exemptions) :- Omnicron or not fully-vaccinated: You will be required to isolated for 10 days, including a bar on travel to leave the country. A negative Day 2 test does not release you from this requirement.
- Other and fully vaccinated : You will not be required to isolate.
- Book any Day 2 PCR test before you travel even if you do not intend to use this test, and use the booking reference for the test on the PLF to ensure entry to the UK.
- Proceed to you place of self-isolation and await the result, which will hopefully be same / next day.
- On your day of arrival go to your scheduled test.
Test Providers for Day 2/8 tests & Day 5 Test to release
This section is for FTers to post their experience with specific providers (good or bad). Keep it brief and to the point. Please mention how the service is provided and your FT name.
DNA Workplace - Postal - Test kits arrived with me on time. Royal Mail slow for return. 5+ days for Day 2 result. #DaveS
DNA Workplace - Postal - Test kits both arrived on time, video of tests required, results by late evening Day 3 and Day 9. #TSE
ExpressTest Gatwick - Drive through - Tested early at 1000 a few times for TTR. Results came through in evening. #DaveS
NowTest - Postal - Day 2 kit arrived on time, day 8 did not. Will update with result arrival times when applicable. #wilsnunn
Collinson - Postal - Day 5 Test to Release kit arrived in time. Results and release by end of day 6. #tjcxx
CTM - Postal - Days 2/8 kits arrived together in time. Both sent results 2 days after posting. #tjcxx
Qured (Oncologica) - Postal -Day 2/8 kits arrived late. Results 3+ days from posting. #Gagravarr
Qured (Oncologica) - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived on time. Day 2 result on Day 5 and Day 8 result on Day 10 - happy customer! #EddLegll
Qured (Ocnologica) - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived on time. Day 2 result on Day 5 (after bedtime; ironically after my TTR result). #KSVVZ2015
Anglia DNA - Postal - Day 2/8 kits arrived early. (Both were labelled Day2). Results on Day 4 and Day 9. Cheapest on the list at the time, and good service/result. #tjcxx
Qured - Pre-flight test booked and bought through BA. Very efficient service. Highly recommended. #lhrsfo
Randox - Days 2 and 8. Booked two days before return, using BA discount. Kits already arrived on return. Slightly confusing instructions but manageable. Used Randox dropbox and results next day. Good. #lhrsfo
Randox - Day 2 (also used as pre departure test for a London to Milan flight). Used a drop box and results arrived at midnight the next day. #11101
Randox - Day 2 test centre - 2h30 queues outside the test centre in Waterloo. Results of antigen arrived 45 minutes later. #11101
Collinson - Test to Release at LHR T2. Good trip out! Very efficient service and well organised. Used BA discount. Results by end of day. Excellent. #lhrsfo
DAM - Test to Release in Fulham (they have many locations) - the cheapest fast turnaround TTR we have found. They promise 24 hours but in reality me, my wife, and my son (on different days) have received results inside of 12 hours. Very efficient staff as well. Princes outside of Central London as low as 99 GBP. Fulham is 129 GBP. #KSVVZ2015
Boots/Source Bioscience - days 2&8. Both packs sent in the same mail, waiting at the isolation address. Dropped off at postbox at 4pm, result back next day between 4 and 5 pm, very effective. Bought from Boots, £160, but same package sold directly bu Source Bioscience is just £120. Aaargh! Instructions said nasal and throat swabs, did only nasal and marked accordingly, no issues. #WilcoRoger
Collinsons/Stansted walkin TTR - test taken 1:30 pm, email with results 10:10 pm same day If the BA20OFF doesn't work (didn't work for us) there's another discount on the airport's site #WilcoRoger
Ordered Day-2 kit from Chronomics a week before our return for £18.99. Duly dispatched day we were returning to UK, so arrived on day following return. Reasonably simple process to do test and upload -ve result picture. Not sure where +ve result would have led to... #EsherFlyer
Hale Clinic testing centre (near Oxford Circus) - While not the least expensive, appoint schedules are accurate and results returned in promised timeframe. I've used the clinic for Day 2 tests (twice) and antigen test for US (once). I would def utilize again. #ecaarch
Halo at T5 (Sofitel) - Day 2 PCR spit test. Took the test 7pm, results arrived 7am the next day. No queues but a slightly awkward process to follow.
Useful data sources:
New cases per 100k - 7 days: https://covid19.who.int/table
New tests per 1000 - 7 days: https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus-testing
Vaccination doses per 100: https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations
Sequenced samples uploaded to GISAID: https://www.gisaid.org/index.php?id=208
NHS Track & Trace data (positivity rates for arriving passengers are published every three weeks, so if you can't find the data in the current release it will be in one of the previous two) https://www.gov.uk/government/collec...weekly-reports https://assets.publishing.service.go...ut_week_50.ods
UK daily COVID data https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/?_ga...827.1594116739
Risk assessment methodology to inform international travel traffic light system
Data informing international travel traffic-light risk assessments
Testing Terminology
Notes which may assist with understanding which tests to use and with "reuse" of UK tests for other countries regulations:
- LFT: Lateral Flow Test - A rapid antigen test using nasal / throat swab typically performed by the traveler at home, hotel, etc using simple disposable device. Usually tests the "outer shell" of the nucleus (which causes the symptoms and is reasonably stable across variants) and not the "spikes" (which allow new variants to invade more easily), so gives a positive result for many variants. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-...d_antigen_test)
- PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction - A laboratory based test which looks at the nucleus of the virus to determine which specific variant it is. After a positive LFT test ("I have some form of COVID") a PCR test ("You have the Gamma variant") allows identification and tracking of new variants to see if they are likely to become a "variant of concern". (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction)
- NAAT: Nucleic Acid Amplification Test - A general class of laboratory based tests which includes PCR, LAMP, etc tests. (See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...b/naats.html)
UK arrivals - pre-departure, quarantine and post-arrival [currently no requirements]
May 11, 2020, 1:09 pm
#166
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold
Posts: 173
What I, as Johnny Foreigner, found really surprising in the UK is that every time I went out there were always a significant number of people who were not keeping the social distancing measures themselves but also, frustratingly at times, made it impossible for others to do so. This, for me, is in direct contrast of the British sentiment which likes order, queues exceptionally and rolls their eyes if one dares to stop and stand on the left side of the escalator in the tube.
Meanwhile in countries like Italy, Cyprus and Greece (where, let's face it, laws are usually for guidance only and are meant to be broken) the message I got from friends and family is that people were for the most part following the social distancing rules to the letter - perhaps due to the method of the restrictions and severity of the fines but still...
May 11, 2020, 1:48 pm
#167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,347
I am not sure whether this is correct - at least in London.
What I, as Johnny Foreigner, found really surprising in the UK is that every time I went out there were always a significant number of people who were not keeping the social distancing measures themselves but also, frustratingly at times, made it impossible for others to do so. This, for me, is in direct contrast of the British sentiment which likes order, queues exceptionally and rolls their eyes if one dares to stop and stand on the left side of the escalator in the tube.
Meanwhile in countries like Italy, Cyprus and Greece (where, let's face it, laws are usually for guidance only and are meant to be broken) the message I got from friends and family is that people were for the most part following the social distancing rules to the letter - perhaps due to the method of the restrictions and severity of the fines but still...
What I, as Johnny Foreigner, found really surprising in the UK is that every time I went out there were always a significant number of people who were not keeping the social distancing measures themselves but also, frustratingly at times, made it impossible for others to do so. This, for me, is in direct contrast of the British sentiment which likes order, queues exceptionally and rolls their eyes if one dares to stop and stand on the left side of the escalator in the tube.
Meanwhile in countries like Italy, Cyprus and Greece (where, let's face it, laws are usually for guidance only and are meant to be broken) the message I got from friends and family is that people were for the most part following the social distancing rules to the letter - perhaps due to the method of the restrictions and severity of the fines but still...
May 11, 2020, 2:58 pm
#168
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Is it me or does anyone else think this quarantine threat is just a ploy or tactic to get other European countries to drop their opposing quarantine measures? Then just keep it for high risk countries. It just feels slightly too vague, no start date, other countries might be added to exempt list......
May 11, 2020, 3:02 pm
#169
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 722
Why do you keep saying England? It’s the U.K.
May 11, 2020, 7:34 pm
#170
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: CX, BA
Posts: 91
Correct - it should be the UK - however, reading the press this morning, all 4 countries in the Union, can control their local rules of containment, such as stay at home, go to work, shop, don't shop, bury your head in the sand etc etc, so maybe inadvertently the use of 'England' in this case is correct!
May 11, 2020, 10:11 pm
#171
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
Is it me or does anyone else think this quarantine threat is just a ploy or tactic to get other European countries to drop their opposing quarantine measures? Then just keep it for high risk countries. It just feels slightly too vague, no start date, other countries might be added to exempt list......
If you objective is to eradicate then it may be effective as a policy when you have low numbers to start with. Which is why NZ found it effective. With the numbers in the UK it will not make the slightest difference.
May 12, 2020, 12:27 am
#172
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 232
Correct - it should be the UK - however, reading the press this morning, all 4 countries in the Union, can control their local rules of containment, such as stay at home, go to work, shop, don't shop, bury your head in the sand etc etc, so maybe inadvertently the use of 'England' in this case is correct!
May 12, 2020, 2:10 am
#173
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Which countries are more high risk than the UK at present?
If you objective is to eradicate then it may be effective as a policy when you have low numbers to start with. Which is why NZ found it effective. With the numbers in the UK it will not make the slightest difference.
If you objective is to eradicate then it may be effective as a policy when you have low numbers to start with. Which is why NZ found it effective. With the numbers in the UK it will not make the slightest difference.
May 12, 2020, 3:02 am
#174
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I don't know what metric you are using, but on a death per capita basis, the UK, France, Spain and Italy are currently world leaders.
May 12, 2020, 4:54 am
#175
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Spain do not include deaths in care homes:
https://english.elpais.com/society/2...are-homes.html
Its only current active cases that make countries high risk, dead people cannot infect anyone else.
Oxford university today confirmed that our cases being 0.24% of the population mean it is no longer an epidemic here.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...cases-falling/
Last edited by paulaf; May 12, 2020 at 5:45 am
May 12, 2020, 6:59 am
#176
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
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Posts: 100,417
May 12, 2020, 8:51 am
#178
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
According to IATA, "No regulations related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) implemented." Is that true??
I thought the UK now has 14 day mandatory quarantine in place?
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
I thought the UK now has 14 day mandatory quarantine in place?
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
May 12, 2020, 9:00 am
#179
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
According to IATA, "No regulations related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) implemented." Is that true??
I thought the UK now has 14 day mandatory quarantine in place?
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
I thought the UK now has 14 day mandatory quarantine in place?
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/int...1580226297.htm
May 13, 2020, 2:21 am
#180
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 64
2 Week Isolation after travel Covid-19 [from UK and back]
Good Morning, Now that we have been told we have to self-isolate after travelling abroad (from the UK back to the UK) at-least, how do you see this working? for me its a nightmare, i regularly (or did) make frequent trips into the Eu for a couple of days etc, does this mean upon return i have to self-isolate even from my Wife etc?
How Do you see it?
Paul
How Do you see it?
Paul