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 13, 2020, 2:38 am
#181
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: HAG
Programs: Der 5* FTL
Posts: 8,038
I see it that I am not making frequent trips across Europe for a couple of days, and I won't be doing that for the foreseeable future either, so it's a bit of a moot point.
May 13, 2020, 2:41 am
#182
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,722
It's called "self isolation" for a reason. If you are infected, anyone you come into contact with can be infected. Just because you are married does not grant your wife immunity to catching the virus from you.
The idea here is to stop the spread of infection...not to spread it to your nearest and dearest.
May 13, 2020, 2:48 am
#183
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 64
For the foreseeable future, you should not be making trips unless absolutely necessary.
Meaning you wouldn't care if you infected your wife?
It's called "self isolation" for a reason. If you are infected, anyone you come into contact with can be infected. Just because you are married does not grant your wife immunity to catching the virus from you.
The idea here is to stop the spread of infection...not to spread it to your nearest and dearest.
Meaning you wouldn't care if you infected your wife?
It's called "self isolation" for a reason. If you are infected, anyone you come into contact with can be infected. Just because you are married does not grant your wife immunity to catching the virus from you.
The idea here is to stop the spread of infection...not to spread it to your nearest and dearest.
What I should have added was I'm a self-employed engineer who's work comes from traveling mostly into the EU, so I have to travel to survive.
May 13, 2020, 3:05 am
#184
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,722
Oh dear. You should probably try to plan a number of jobs in the same location for each trip, then - working 2 or 3 days each followed by 14 days in self isolation is not sustainable.
May 13, 2020, 3:58 am
#185
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
To be fair, the requirement for "self isolation" for 14 days after any international travel is a bit of non-sense, is there a bigger risk of being infected abroad than there is in the UK?
Unless his wife is in a risk group, and assuming she can stay at home for 14+ days I see no harm in "self-isolating" together, any trip we take to the supermarket etc. has the potential of getting us infected and spreading it to our nearest and dearest.
For the foreseeable future, you should not be making trips unless absolutely necessary.
Meaning you wouldn't care if you infected your wife?
It's called "self isolation" for a reason. If you are infected, anyone you come into contact with can be infected. Just because you are married does not grant your wife immunity to catching the virus from you.
The idea here is to stop the spread of infection...not to spread it to your nearest and dearest.
Meaning you wouldn't care if you infected your wife?
It's called "self isolation" for a reason. If you are infected, anyone you come into contact with can be infected. Just because you are married does not grant your wife immunity to catching the virus from you.
The idea here is to stop the spread of infection...not to spread it to your nearest and dearest.
May 13, 2020, 4:01 am
#186
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Possibly good news, EU discussing lifting borders today.
Britain's plan to exempt France from 14-day travel quarantine will have to be applied to EVERY EU member state, the European Commission warns.
Merkel also said that Germany's aim was that all border controls in the Schengen travel zone be lifted by 15 June.
Hopefully all of EU will do the same.
Britain's plan to exempt France from 14-day travel quarantine will have to be applied to EVERY EU member state, the European Commission warns.
Merkel also said that Germany's aim was that all border controls in the Schengen travel zone be lifted by 15 June.
Hopefully all of EU will do the same.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; May 13, 2020 at 1:00 pm Reason: Font size
May 13, 2020, 4:11 am
#187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,722
However, regardless of whether the wife is in a risk group or not, I think it is a far better idea to make attempts at preventing her from getting infected in the first place.
You are right; but the UK is only now talking about introducing this "self isolation" requirement now.
May 13, 2020, 4:14 am
#188
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,555
I am afraid that the quarantine measure is aimed at people like yo who can keep transmitting the virus with short stays in many locations.
However, there might be exemptions for work reasons, so you have to examine carefully each country rules.
However, there might be exemptions for work reasons, so you have to examine carefully each country rules.
May 13, 2020, 4:27 am
#189
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
Perhaps; and indeed if the husband turns out to be infected and becomes sick, then the wife (and any other members of the household) has to stay home as well anyway - as is the case in any household where an infection arises.
However, regardless of whether the wife is in a risk group or not, I think it is a far better idea to make attempts at preventing her from getting infected in the first place.
However, regardless of whether the wife is in a risk group or not, I think it is a far better idea to make attempts at preventing her from getting infected in the first place.
Otherwise why not self-isolate all-together? You could get infected doing grocery shopping and any other "allowed" activity.
May 13, 2020, 5:49 am
#190
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Netherlands
Programs: KL Platinum; A3 Gold
Posts: 28,722
You are right - you can get infected doing grocery shopping or any other "allowed" activity - though these activities are supposed to be done in ways where this risk is minimised - whether that is just by social distancing alone, or whether you want to take greater steps when out in public.
But I am not aware of many households who act the same way when inside their homes as they do when out in public - but perhaps there are indeed people who, in their own homes, maintain social distancing, and treat all surfaces as being potentially infected and therefore necessitating hand-washing after touching any door, tap or handle as if it were some external surface that you could not vouch for its cleanliness.
But the advice in the UK will soon be to self-isolate on return from overseas (except from France or Ireland) - the advice is not to self-isolate on return from the supermarket or the park. As such, the UK government now considers it prudent for people to act in a different way in the home on return from abroad rather than on return from, say, Tesco's.
I would also expect that most households would, if one member began to develop symptoms, would take the same basic measures that any household would do when a family member came down with an infectious disease.
Now, of course, not every household will be able to prevent infections from spreading - and by the time the symptoms have arisen it may be too late (hence the extra caution now to instigate those measures after "risky" overseas travel). But it is entirely feasible. I was struck down during the 1989 flu epidemic and was confined to my bed for a solid 2 weeks - but as a family unit I was cared for at home without anyone else acquiring the flu.
To each their own, but I find this laissez-faire attitude and a certain shrug of the shoulders and the attitude that there is little point attempting to prevent (or, as in your view apparently, merely delay) further spread - even amongst your nearest and dearest - to be part of the reason why we will end up dealing with this pandemic for months or years, rather than weeks or months.
Last edited by irishguy28; May 13, 2020 at 5:55 am
May 13, 2020, 7:00 am
#191
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This is not a debate about the advisability or efficacy of the rule. Rather, OP posed a practical question, the answer to which is in his own posts. Like many people around the world, he faces significant financial consequences as the result of the virus, but his travel -- as described -- is not essential. Thus, he should not be traveling.
If he does, he must self-isolate for 14 days upon his return. Many people around the world face this and the UK is simply a late add-on. If this is not feasible, it might be better for OP to temporarily locate to a place without a quarantine from which he can base himself for the next few months (or for however long the UK policy remains in effect).
If he does, he must self-isolate for 14 days upon his return. Many people around the world face this and the UK is simply a late add-on. If this is not feasible, it might be better for OP to temporarily locate to a place without a quarantine from which he can base himself for the next few months (or for however long the UK policy remains in effect).
May 13, 2020, 7:02 am
#192
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: CPT,AMS
Posts: 4,412
But the advice in the UK will soon be to self-isolate on return from overseas (except from France or Ireland) - the advice is not to self-isolate on return from the supermarket or the park. As such, the UK government now considers it prudent for people to act in a different way in the home on return from abroad rather than on return from, say, Tesco's.
I would also expect that most households would, if one member began to develop symptoms, would take the same basic measures that any household would do when a family member came down with an infectious disease.
Now, of course, not every household will be able to prevent infections from spreading - and by the time the symptoms have arisen it may be too late (hence the extra caution now to instigate those measures after "risky" overseas travel). But it is entirely feasible. I was struck down during the 1989 flu epidemic and was confined to my bed for a solid 2 weeks - but as a family unit I was cared for at home without anyone else acquiring the flu.
Now, of course, not every household will be able to prevent infections from spreading - and by the time the symptoms have arisen it may be too late (hence the extra caution now to instigate those measures after "risky" overseas travel). But it is entirely feasible. I was struck down during the 1989 flu epidemic and was confined to my bed for a solid 2 weeks - but as a family unit I was cared for at home without anyone else acquiring the flu.
To each their own, but I find this laissez-faire attitude and a certain shrug of the shoulders and the attitude that there is little point attempting to prevent (or, as in your view apparently, merely delay) further spread - even amongst your nearest and dearest - to be part of the reason why we will end up dealing with this pandemic for months or years, rather than weeks or months.
May 13, 2020, 7:57 am
#193
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
The Netherlands now also has a 14-day mandatory quarantine when you originate from a "high risk" area.
https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/...virus-measures
https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/...virus-measures
May 13, 2020, 8:04 am
#194
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 339
I said before that the UK will act as a EU country .
They have too off course
So propably there will be qurantine for a several countrys
Depending degree of covid etc etc
The dutch version is a joke
please sir /madam
we would like that you stay 14 days in qurantine
we do not check or give a penalty!
greetings
cornelis
They have too off course
So propably there will be qurantine for a several countrys
Depending degree of covid etc etc
The dutch version is a joke
please sir /madam
we would like that you stay 14 days in qurantine
we do not check or give a penalty!
greetings
cornelis
May 13, 2020, 8:07 am
#195
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
I said before that the UK will act as a EU country .
They have too off course
So propably there will be qurantine for a several countrys
Depending degree of covid etc etc
The dutch version is a joke
please sir /madam
we would like that you stay 14 days in qurantine
we do not check or give a penalty!
greetings
cornelis
They have too off course
So propably there will be qurantine for a several countrys
Depending degree of covid etc etc
The dutch version is a joke
please sir /madam
we would like that you stay 14 days in qurantine
we do not check or give a penalty!
greetings
cornelis
If UK, NL etc. don't want tourists, they should just shutdown the border.