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]
#376
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The number that I think is the most trustworthy is the excess death numbers. Those are much less susceptible to reporting differences.
#377
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#378
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Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
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#379
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Do we have to wait until the 5pm briefing or will we hear earlier?
#380
Join Date: Apr 2014
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#382
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
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We're going to do something from early June....waffle.. working with partners and friends in the international community ..waffle.... based in reciprocity...more waffle...
...in other words if they do say something today it will be very vague, but they will do something......
...in other words if they do say something today it will be very vague, but they will do something......
#383
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
I imagine it will be announced by Patel, so if it is her leading the conference this evening, that's probably when we will hear it.
#384
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
From the Telegraph:
Are 'air bridges' dead in the water?
Some fascinating quotes from a Government source have poured a large quantity of cold water over Grant Shapps's 'air bridges' scheme, and suggested the UK's proposed quarantine on overseas arrivals could be around for a while. It all sounds like very bad news for holidaymakers and tour operators.
"It was just Grant freelancing," the source said. "He has been against this whole thing [the quarantine] from the get go, because he's got the airlines on his back. "Frankly people in Government are quite annoyed with him because they just got the quarantine thing onto an even keel after a few wobbly weeks and then he throws the spanner in the works."
They suggested Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's senior adviser, is a driving force behind the quarantine plan.
Are 'air bridges' dead in the water?
Some fascinating quotes from a Government source have poured a large quantity of cold water over Grant Shapps's 'air bridges' scheme, and suggested the UK's proposed quarantine on overseas arrivals could be around for a while. It all sounds like very bad news for holidaymakers and tour operators.
"It was just Grant freelancing," the source said. "He has been against this whole thing [the quarantine] from the get go, because he's got the airlines on his back. "Frankly people in Government are quite annoyed with him because they just got the quarantine thing onto an even keel after a few wobbly weeks and then he throws the spanner in the works."
They suggested Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister's senior adviser, is a driving force behind the quarantine plan.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; May 21, 2020 at 3:41 am Reason: Font size
#385
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
I wonder what the logic could possibly be for introducing such a hard quarantine when everywhere else is toning things down. A conservative govt surely wants above all to preserve jobs and the economy and they know this will do the exact opposite.
It is in the Express so I won't dare link to it, however, it is saying countries willing to open up to the UK will only do so on the basis of reciprocity, ie if our quarantine goes up, they will not open up to us. They mention a vague quote on reciprocity from Italy more specifically on that point.
It is in the Express so I won't dare link to it, however, it is saying countries willing to open up to the UK will only do so on the basis of reciprocity, ie if our quarantine goes up, they will not open up to us. They mention a vague quote on reciprocity from Italy more specifically on that point.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; May 21, 2020 at 3:54 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same member
#386
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 232
It is in the Express so I won't dare link to it, however, it is saying countries willing to open up to the UK will only do so on the basis of reciprocity, ie if our quarantine goes up, they will not open up to us. They mention a vague quote on reciprocity from Italy more specifically on that point.
I have a feeling that's probably true, but also something to do with this quarantine. Also makes me wonder if the quarantine is a smokescreen for the fact countries don't want to open to us - Govt trying to save itself from international ridicule. Would explain Cummins' involvement
#387
Join Date: Apr 2014
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It's so far beyond logic at this stage, given the state of the virus in the UK, you have to wonder if there is something else in play, though gawd only knows what!
#388
Join Date: Apr 2014
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I read on the BBC this morning that Greece doesn't want to open to us due to how we've handled the outbreak.
I have a feeling that's probably true, but also something to do with this quarantine. Also makes me wonder if the quarantine is a smokescreen for the fact countries don't want to open to us - Govt trying to save itself from international ridicule. Would explain Cummins' involvement
I have a feeling that's probably true, but also something to do with this quarantine. Also makes me wonder if the quarantine is a smokescreen for the fact countries don't want to open to us - Govt trying to save itself from international ridicule. Would explain Cummins' involvement
#389
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 232
But if you're HMG and you face the world openly laughing at you and refusing you entry as they open up, based on your mishandling of the virus, how can you spin that to a public?
Simple - make it seem like restrictions on foreign travel are a good thing.
Then, introduce an arbitrary quarantine measure that plays well in the DM, Express etc that causes the world to refuse to open to us based on that, rather than the incompetence in managing the crisis.
#390
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Yes, I see that all over now re Greece not including the UK in its reopening plans.