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, Ł160, but same package sold directly bu Source Bioscience is just Ł120. 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 Ł18.99. 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]
Oct 8, 2020, 5:00 am
#4231
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Spire
Posts: 3,317
Question about the UK rates . . . how did things accelerate so quickly? Do we know, or are there good working theories out there? Just very curious about how this came to pass.
Oct 8, 2020, 5:15 am
#4232
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
Programs: *A Gold (A3), HHonor Gold
Posts: 5,693
Well there are various problems I think.
First the timing of the government actions are very discutable from a epidemiologist point of view. Most of the actions taken by UK were very late, which was a constant from the criticism you can read on the Science Media Centre. Masks mandates were very late, and not necessarily where it matters. The very important notion of aerosol contamination (I need to post this in the Fact thread but now the current estimation is that aerosol accounts for >50% of the contamination) is still ignored: there are no emphasis on aeration and on the fact that the virus can go further than 2 meters. Restaurants, pubs were open and with financial incentive to go there. There is the entire test and trace debacle, the various scandals, the poor communication.
Second those actions were not helpful to the financially fragile, which is one reason why adherence to self-isolation was so poor. Even if you are sick people were going to work as they can not rely on getting income if self-isolating. The government should have made it clear this would not happen, there would be job retention and income for people isolation due to sickness or being a contact.
Third the attitude of a non insignificant part of the population, which transpires on FT where the "libertarian, freedom, stupid, anti-science" is very visible and in majority British: ignoring the facts, far right and xenophobia (there is a very visible link in all countries between "covidiot-ism" and far-right, which is logic as those two groups ignore science and facts in general). Poor attitude towards being helpful to people in general and thinking for society instead of being egoist. This is very pronounced in the UK (but not only, France, US also).
First the timing of the government actions are very discutable from a epidemiologist point of view. Most of the actions taken by UK were very late, which was a constant from the criticism you can read on the Science Media Centre. Masks mandates were very late, and not necessarily where it matters. The very important notion of aerosol contamination (I need to post this in the Fact thread but now the current estimation is that aerosol accounts for >50% of the contamination) is still ignored: there are no emphasis on aeration and on the fact that the virus can go further than 2 meters. Restaurants, pubs were open and with financial incentive to go there. There is the entire test and trace debacle, the various scandals, the poor communication.
Second those actions were not helpful to the financially fragile, which is one reason why adherence to self-isolation was so poor. Even if you are sick people were going to work as they can not rely on getting income if self-isolating. The government should have made it clear this would not happen, there would be job retention and income for people isolation due to sickness or being a contact.
Third the attitude of a non insignificant part of the population, which transpires on FT where the "libertarian, freedom, stupid, anti-science" is very visible and in majority British: ignoring the facts, far right and xenophobia (there is a very visible link in all countries between "covidiot-ism" and far-right, which is logic as those two groups ignore science and facts in general). Poor attitude towards being helpful to people in general and thinking for society instead of being egoist. This is very pronounced in the UK (but not only, France, US also).
Oct 8, 2020, 5:28 am
#4233
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: 63,774
- More indoor life since the weather isn't as good as it was, the light evenings not as long
- Children back at school, but on the stats it is more the older children / Sixth Formers that have slightly raised the level.
- Students. Probably the biggest factor, and it's not a blame game, students live in accommodation which make social distancing very difficult.
The numbers stil show that around 85% of cases come from people well known to the person infected, same household or a closely related household, so it can only suggest that each person infected is infecting generally 1.5 other persons for the disease to spread at the current levels. Within a household, student digs or extended family this isn't difficult for a virus to achieve. Among the things that don't appear to be contributing is the workplace, indeed we haven't seen many issues of late in cold storage food units, abattoirs, ambient food producers, so that aspect appears to be working.
Oct 8, 2020, 5:42 am
#4234
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Krakow
Programs: BAEC Silver, Miles and More(FTL), IHG(Platinum), Accor, HHonors(Diamond), SPG, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 5,907
I am not sure you are seeing infections rising quicker than most other places in western europe, just seeing it happen later, as you did in March / April
Oct 8, 2020, 5:51 am
#4235
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Spire
Posts: 3,317
Thank you to all for your replies to my question!
Oct 8, 2020, 5:53 am
#4236
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
Ah well. Looks like it'll be a while before I see the UK again. Not that I'm particularly bothered about the UK, but I would have liked to visit some family and friends.
Oct 8, 2020, 6:04 am
#4237
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,517
Current infection rates are between 50% and 100% higher than a week ago (based on the corrected figure), and in some cities and regions, the slope of the increase is unfortunately out of control.
I agree with you that in some sense, the UK followed on the paths of Spain then France a few weeks later, but it is doing so with a far more abrupt rate of increase. In other words, neither Spain nor France went from two week infection rates of 100 to 200 in a mere 8 days like the UK has. This is probably worsened by a mixture of external factors - such as seasonality, and public policy factors, such as the very low use of face masks and the testing fiasco which means that people often wait several unnecessary days before getting confirmation that they are in fact contagious).
Oct 8, 2020, 6:18 am
#4238
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
I think Italy will be given another week, IMO. But definitely think Sweden will go.
Sweden is the last destination a UK traveller can visit without a test or quarantine at either end.
Sweden is the last destination a UK traveller can visit without a test or quarantine at either end.
Oct 8, 2020, 6:32 am
#4239
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Portugal
Programs: TK Elite+, FB Platinum, BAEC Gold, ALL Diamond, IHG Diamond Royal Ambassador
Posts: 293
Not sure if it's the best spot for this... but can someone guide on what are the current rules for transiting on separate tickets through the UK?
Let's say I booked a LIS — LHR + LHR — SEZ — LHR + LHR — LIS for next month. The intra-europe booked as a separate flight to the long-haul.
How would I be affected in regards to the quarantine rules?
Does it make a difference if it requires a night layover in London?
Let's say I booked a LIS — LHR + LHR — SEZ — LHR + LHR — LIS for next month. The intra-europe booked as a separate flight to the long-haul.
How would I be affected in regards to the quarantine rules?
Does it make a difference if it requires a night layover in London?
Oct 8, 2020, 7:06 am
#4240
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 17,907
Not sure if it's the best spot for this... but can someone guide on what are the current rules for transiting on separate tickets through the UK?
Let's say I booked a LIS — LHR + LHR — SEZ — LHR + LHR — LIS for next month. The intra-europe booked as a separate flight to the long-haul.
How would I be affected in regards to the quarantine rules?
Does it make a difference if it requires a night layover in London?
Let's say I booked a LIS — LHR + LHR — SEZ — LHR + LHR — LIS for next month. The intra-europe booked as a separate flight to the long-haul.
How would I be affected in regards to the quarantine rules?
Does it make a difference if it requires a night layover in London?
I assume this is BA for both flights.?
With checked bags ( BA will not check them through on separater tickets) you will need to go landside via Border control , collect your bags ,then check them in.
You will need to fill out details on the UK Passenger locator form before arriving at LHR.
If travelling on the same day put departing on flight xxxxx
If staying at a hotel put the hotel address, staying for 1 night then departing for.
The UK quarantine rules allow you to go to the hotel for 1 night then leave the next day.
Regards
TBS
Oct 8, 2020, 8:47 am
#4241
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 1,587
Assuming you like them enough to stay with them, you could simply list all their addresses on the isolation form and travel between them. No pubs or restaurants (probably a good idea anyway). My issue, as I'll be doing that in a couple of weeks, is the boredom of quarantine when I return to Switzerland. November is the worst time, weather wise, to go out here anyway. I'll be sending my family out to Sainsburys with a huge shopping list, so I guess I'll spend the time cooking and eating!
Oct 8, 2020, 10:10 am
#4242
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
Assuming you like them enough to stay with them, you could simply list all their addresses on the isolation form and travel between them. No pubs or restaurants (probably a good idea anyway). My issue, as I'll be doing that in a couple of weeks, is the boredom of quarantine when I return to Switzerland. November is the worst time, weather wise, to go out here anyway. I'll be sending my family out to Sainsburys with a huge shopping list, so I guess I'll spend the time cooking and eating!
Oct 8, 2020, 10:46 am
#4243
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
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Posts: 17,907
Repreive for Italy and Sweden this week
Hi,
From the BBC;
People arriving in England from the Greek islands of Lesvos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days from Saturday, the government has announced.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54460270
No countries have been removed from the travel corridor ( ie a repreive this week for Sweden and Italy) although Italy reported a large increase in cases today ( 4,458 the highest since 12th april)
Regards
From the BBC;
People arriving in England from the Greek islands of Lesvos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days from Saturday, the government has announced.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54460270
No countries have been removed from the travel corridor ( ie a repreive this week for Sweden and Italy) although Italy reported a large increase in cases today ( 4,458 the highest since 12th april)
Regards
Oct 8, 2020, 10:59 am
#4244
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Bregenz, Austria
Programs: AA, BAEC, Alaska, Flying Blue, United, IHG, Hilton
Posts: 2,950
Hi,
From the BBC;
People arriving in England from the Greek islands of Lesvos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days from Saturday, the government has announced.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54460270
No countries have been removed from the travel corridor ( ie a repreive this week for Sweden and Italy) although Italy reported a large increase in cases today ( 4,458 the highest since 12th april)
Regards
From the BBC;
People arriving in England from the Greek islands of Lesvos, Santorini, Serifos, Tinos and Zakynthos will no longer need to self-isolate for 14 days from Saturday, the government has announced.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54460270
No countries have been removed from the travel corridor ( ie a repreive this week for Sweden and Italy) although Italy reported a large increase in cases today ( 4,458 the highest since 12th april)
Regards
Oct 8, 2020, 12:19 pm
#4245
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Very surprised re Sweden. No news update whatsoever from Scotland. Given the only E+W was tinkering with islands, and that Scotland bans all of Greece anywhere, I assume silence = no changes?