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]
Sep 15, 2020, 3:48 am
#3886
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,844
Here is Tuesday's figures, which is less constrained by weekend ways of working. Not a lot of good news to report, other than that there may not be many changes. Denmark is however way over the previous threshold.
The colour coding is not official, but is explained in this post.
Sep 15, 2020, 7:03 am
#3887
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Gold, Accor Live Limitless Gold, Hilton Honours Gold, Avis Preferred Plus
Posts: 1,807
You say here previous threshold, does this indicate that the threshold has changed? There was discussion earlier on in this thread about the threshold being raised as the UK infection rate grew however that seemed entirely illogical to me.
Sep 15, 2020, 8:30 am
#3888
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Nobody in red seems to really be making progress toward green. It's a shame. Luxembourg maybe.
Sep 15, 2020, 9:31 am
#3889
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,937
Sweden being pretty remote other than perhaps Stockholm might mean they got on top of it quicker than others, so maybe take longer elsewhere
The fact much of Europe has already had a round may mean that it stats coming down quicker than Sweden saw
Sep 15, 2020, 11:11 am
#3890
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,844
I think the way I will characterise this is that the original threshold is there, but there has always been an element of the real world creeping in (which I think is good actually). So whereas a few weeks ago these figures would risk a mid-week immediate update, now I am not even sure that it will get announced on Thursday. Denmark is an interesting one since their processes are similar to the UK, it may therefore be cut some slack.
Sep 15, 2020, 12:17 pm
#3891
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,044
That's the world we live in and as the pandemic continues we might see more real world compromises being made.
Sep 15, 2020, 1:37 pm
#3892
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
I wonder how more extreme measures would impact on travel and the quarantine policy. Surely there would be a mismatch between severe closures of things across the UK while still allowing people to go on holiday somewhere quarantine free.
https://www.itv.com/news/2020-09-15/...-measures-loom
https://www.itv.com/news/2020-09-15/...-measures-loom
Sep 15, 2020, 1:49 pm
#3893
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,238
Meanwhile even Alitalia - Alitalia, ladies and gentlemen, Ali-bloody-talia! - is trialling quick 30' tests for outbound passengers on a FCO-LIN flight with the assistance of Lazio's health authorities. Whenever this government wakes up it'll be way too late.
Sep 15, 2020, 2:27 pm
#3894
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,228
I think there has to be a more pragmatic view on this, and more compromises will have to be made. We're seemingly stuck in a vicious circle at the moment where you go from restrictions / lockdown / social distancing to slow the infection rate to a relaxation of said restrictions, whereupon the infection rate goes up again. Rinse, repeat. I really don't see how this is sustainable in the longer term.
That aside, does anyone have any statistics that give any sort of indication how many travellers returning to the UK were diagnosed with COVID during the 14 days post-arrival, and whether there was any significant difference in infection rates between those arriving from countries where self-isolation wasn't required and from those countries where it was? I'm just interested in seeing how this relates to the increase in UK number from 13.2 on the 25th July to 52.9 today. Obviously the Government's real concern and the whole rationale behind the 14-day self-isolation policy was to prevent the re-introduction of COVID by people returning from hotspots abroad. If the increase across the UK is solely attributable to returning travellers then it implies the self-quarantine system is woefully inadequate and broken - i.e. people aren't following the rules but are out and about, spreading the infection. If it's not attributable to returning travellers then why do we need it?
That aside, does anyone have any statistics that give any sort of indication how many travellers returning to the UK were diagnosed with COVID during the 14 days post-arrival, and whether there was any significant difference in infection rates between those arriving from countries where self-isolation wasn't required and from those countries where it was? I'm just interested in seeing how this relates to the increase in UK number from 13.2 on the 25th July to 52.9 today. Obviously the Government's real concern and the whole rationale behind the 14-day self-isolation policy was to prevent the re-introduction of COVID by people returning from hotspots abroad. If the increase across the UK is solely attributable to returning travellers then it implies the self-quarantine system is woefully inadequate and broken - i.e. people aren't following the rules but are out and about, spreading the infection. If it's not attributable to returning travellers then why do we need it?
Sep 15, 2020, 2:29 pm
#3895
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,238
That aside, does anyone have any statistics that give any sort of indication how many travellers returning to the UK were diagnosed with COVID during the 14 days post-arrival, and whether there was any significant difference in infection rates between those arriving from countries where self-isolation wasn't required and from those countries where it was?
Sep 15, 2020, 3:23 pm
#3896
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,937
Originally Posted by Geordie405
That aside, does anyone have any statistics that give any sort of indication how many travellers returning to the UK were diagnosed with COVID during the 14 days post-arrival, and whether there was any significant difference in infection rates between those arriving from countries where self-isolation wasn't required and from those countries where it was? I'm just interested in seeing how this relates to the increase in UK number from 13.2 on the 25th July to 52.9 today. Obviously the Government's real concern and the whole rationale behind the 14-day self-isolation policy was to prevent the re-introduction of COVID by people returning from hotspots abroad. If the increase across the UK is solely attributable to returning travellers then it implies the self-quarantine system is woefully inadequate and broken - i.e. people aren't following the rules but are out and about, spreading the infection. If it's not attributable to returning travellers then why do we need it?
The only way to stamp this out is lockdown and area till its clean. Once its clean then you can open it up to other clean areas. Not to "nearly" clean areas. One way to do this would perhaps be to define smaller areas than we have so far, That would have the potential limiting travel even within countries so you could, for example, declare cornwall and devon clean and Newquay airport could be a gateway for people from there to get to other locations that have been declared clean.
If people can't wear masks I can't see this fly. Let alone the number of people that would expect to be an exception.
so we need to learn to live with it. I suspect that means this cycle for a period of time. either that or we accept high infection rates and numbers of deaths for a few months.
Last edited by scottishpoet; Sep 15, 2020 at 3:40 pm
Sep 15, 2020, 3:39 pm
#3897
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: SAS EBS / *A Silver, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 3,786
Croatia and Luxembourg are the only "red" countries which make steady progress in the right direction. Apart from them, Bulgaria, Poland, Iceland, Cyprus and Latvia are also improving. Everyone else in Europe is going up with their infection rates.
Sep 15, 2020, 3:42 pm
#3898
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,937
I am really interested to see if they have a second wave
Sep 15, 2020, 4:43 pm
#3899
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,228
Because of the incubation we would not know. someone who travels for a week or two and picks up the virus on their last 3 days would probably test negative on arrival, as would anyone who just went for a long weekend.
While interesting this is one area statistics may not help. if, for example before it became a hotspot, they showed that more people coming back from the Greek islands were testing positive than those coming back from a "hotspot" then you have proven the policy has worked. it slows the spread but does not stop it. that is what I suspect we would see. but yes if it is the other and it is people coming back from quarantine countries and spreading it in their community then the quarantine is not working.
The only way to stamp this out is lockdown and area till its clean. Once its clean then you can open it up to other clean areas. Not to "nearly" clean areas. One way to do this would perhaps be to define smaller areas than we have so far, That would have the potential limiting travel even within countries so you could, for example, declare cornwall and devon clean and Newquay airport could be a gateway for people from there to get to other locations that have been declared clean.
If people can't wear masks I can't see this fly. Let alone the number of people that would expect to be an exception.
so we need to learn to live with it. I suspect that means this cycle for a period of time. either that or we accept high infection rates and numbers of deaths for a few months.
While interesting this is one area statistics may not help. if, for example before it became a hotspot, they showed that more people coming back from the Greek islands were testing positive than those coming back from a "hotspot" then you have proven the policy has worked. it slows the spread but does not stop it. that is what I suspect we would see. but yes if it is the other and it is people coming back from quarantine countries and spreading it in their community then the quarantine is not working.
The only way to stamp this out is lockdown and area till its clean. Once its clean then you can open it up to other clean areas. Not to "nearly" clean areas. One way to do this would perhaps be to define smaller areas than we have so far, That would have the potential limiting travel even within countries so you could, for example, declare cornwall and devon clean and Newquay airport could be a gateway for people from there to get to other locations that have been declared clean.
If people can't wear masks I can't see this fly. Let alone the number of people that would expect to be an exception.
so we need to learn to live with it. I suspect that means this cycle for a period of time. either that or we accept high infection rates and numbers of deaths for a few months.
I am also not sure how feasible local / isolated lockdowns are. I share your scepticism. If, for the sake of argument, Gateshead becomes a hotspot do you then limit people from travelling to or from any adjacent council borough? Ideally, yes, as you say you'd lockdown until it's clean. From a practical point of view it's unworkable because people need to travel for work, for school, to go shopping etc. How would you enforce it? I don't see the police or the local authority having the resources or inclination. Yet one could argue that this pandemic is a public health emergency and should be resourced appropriately. The next question would be what do you do when the local area is clean and infection-free. You need to keep it that way, so you have to continue to enforce the travel ban to / from adjacent areas until they too are clean. I have to be honest and say that I can't see this being viewed with much enthusiasm by the public
As you say, I can't see it flying. I think the only way we'll see a consistent long-term decrease in the infection rate is when public opinion swings to such an extent that not wearing a mask in public is seen as being morally reprehensible - in the same way as drink driving is viewed.
Sep 15, 2020, 5:32 pm
#3900
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: VIE
Programs: SAS EBS / *A Silver, Hilton Diamond, Radisson VIP, IHG Platinum Ambassador
Posts: 3,786
I'm also curious what will happen in SE. If their positive trend continues for another month or two, implications for the rest of Europe will be significant. In addition to infection rates, excess mortality data will also be interesting - their P-score was negative in July and August and while this represents some increase compared to January and February, it is probably far better than what will most other countries experience in upcoming months.
EDIT: I'm now reading an article about Sweden and it seems they are going to lift the ban on visits in care homes from October. That has a potential to slow their improvement a bit, so I hope they will have plenty of precautions in place.
Last edited by the810; Sep 15, 2020 at 8:17 pm