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]
Jun 2, 2020, 3:33 pm
#797
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
I prefer the DailyMail to the Telegraph, and the main headline on the website is
'UK QUARANTINE CHAOS'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art....html#comments
'UK QUARANTINE CHAOS'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art....html#comments
Jun 2, 2020, 3:45 pm
#798
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
In the Telegraph tonight, though I can't see the bulk of it because of the paywall.
The sub headline says "doubt cast over air bridge solution"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...-keep-us-safe/
The tone from the bits you can see does not sound optimistic about air bridges, easing of quarantine, etc.
The sub headline says "doubt cast over air bridge solution"
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics...-keep-us-safe/
The tone from the bits you can see does not sound optimistic about air bridges, easing of quarantine, etc.
Jun 2, 2020, 4:12 pm
#799
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
FCO
[email protected]
Department for transport
https://forms.dft.gov.uk/contact-dft-and-agencies/
Home office [email protected]
PMhttp://email.number10.gov.uk/
And of course your MP!
Hope this helps anyone wanting to lobby around this.
[email protected]
Department for transport
https://forms.dft.gov.uk/contact-dft-and-agencies/
Home office [email protected]
PMhttp://email.number10.gov.uk/
And of course your MP!
Hope this helps anyone wanting to lobby around this.
Jun 2, 2020, 4:13 pm
#800
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
I don't see what all the complaints are here. There are several other countries that have had quarantine in place for some time now and with no choice of where it is carried out. At least the UK is offering you the ability to do it in your own home. If you go to Australia, you get put into a mandated hotel and can't even leave the tiny little room (most which have no windows that can be opened....) for 14 days.
I think people need a reality check here. The sky is not falling in.
I think people need a reality check here. The sky is not falling in.
Jun 2, 2020, 4:23 pm
#801
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
I don't see what all the complaints are here. There are several other countries that have had quarantine in place for some time now and with no choice of where it is carried out. At least the UK is offering you the ability to do it in your own home. If you go to Australia, you get put into a mandated hotel and can't even leave the tiny little room (most which have no windows that can be opened....) for 14 days.
I think people need a reality check here. The sky is not falling in.
I think people need a reality check here. The sky is not falling in.
Jun 2, 2020, 4:57 pm
#802
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 331
It’s not unreasonable to be suspicious of those arriving from overseas as potentially infected, what’s unreasonable is not allowing such a person to “prove their innocence” via an antigen test and terminate the quarantine early. I do wonder under what basis such a quarantine would stand if someone independently obtained such a test.
Jun 2, 2020, 5:16 pm
#803
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
It’s not unreasonable to be suspicious of those arriving from overseas as potentially infected, what’s unreasonable is not allowing such a person to “prove their innocence” via an antigen test and terminate the quarantine early. I do wonder under what basis such a quarantine would stand if someone independently obtained such a test.
Jun 2, 2020, 6:02 pm
#804
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 722
" as early as 20/7"? So that would be what, two full 3-week reviews? That is quite a long time. I was hoping for significant changes by the first review! That isn't nearly as optimistic as other articles so it certainly worries me.
Incredibly England-centric, as by then Scotland will be more than halfway through its school holidays.
Instead of air bridges, why not do like other countries and have a criteria - quarantine if cases per million are above X, no quarantine if cases per million are below X.
Incredibly England-centric, as by then Scotland will be more than halfway through its school holidays.
Instead of air bridges, why not do like other countries and have a criteria - quarantine if cases per million are above X, no quarantine if cases per million are below X.
When 1500 new cases is around 8 times the number of cases reported in Spain, Portugal or Italy, 5 times the number for France (and `1500x the number of new Greek cases) it's not all that low, actually!
If I were a sensible country, I'd wan't the UK new cases number down to below 500 a day before I would even consider test/quarantine free travel between my country and the UK.
If I were a sensible country, I'd wan't the UK new cases number down to below 500 a day before I would even consider test/quarantine free travel between my country and the UK.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Jun 3, 2020 at 1:58 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same member
Jun 2, 2020, 9:16 pm
#805
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,568
And Portugal is the current outlier in EU as you can see on the first DM Figure.
I don't see what all the complaints are here. There are several other countries that have had quarantine in place for some time now and with no choice of where it is carried out. At least the UK is offering you the ability to do it in your own home. If you go to Australia, you get put into a mandated hotel and can't even leave the tiny little room (most which have no windows that can be opened....) for 14 days.
I think people need a reality check here. The sky is not falling in.
I think people need a reality check here. The sky is not falling in.
Many of those have/had severe entry restrictions. But have announced gradual lifting of these restrictions in June, allowing British tourists to go to their second home or stay in their booked holiday place.
What makes little sense is that Britain had an open entry policy until now (as opposed to all other countries) and will impose a full quarantine measure on all arriving pax in June (as opposed to many countries lifting their entry restrictions). I am a non-UK-resident scientist, so I have no personal bias.
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Jun 3, 2020 at 1:59 am Reason: Merge consecutive posts by same member
Jun 3, 2020, 12:09 am
#806
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Kazakhstan
Programs: BA Gold, AirAstana Silver (much use as chocolate teapot)
Posts: 867
I don't see what all the complaints are here. There are several other countries that have had quarantine in place for some time now and with no choice of where it is carried out. At least the UK is offering you the ability to do it in your own home. If you go to Australia, you get put into a mandated hotel and can't even leave the tiny little room (most which have no windows that can be opened....) for 14 days.
I think people need a reality check here. The sky is not falling in.
I think people need a reality check here. The sky is not falling in.
The complaints from me come at a personal level. I have not been home since February. I can take 2 weeks off at a time & if I follow the quarantine regulations in the UK, I am not supposed to be in the same room as my wife when I return & avoid common house areas. So effectively government advice is I can't see her. She has already had CV19 as might I.
Jun 3, 2020, 12:42 am
#807
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: 63,837
Parliament today:
The Chancellor answers an Emergency Question from Huw Merriman at 12.30
The Home Secretary launches the policy at 13.30.
Both will be transmitted on Parliament TV.
Ms. Patel is doing the broadcasting rounds this morning for the first time in 4 months. Piers Morgan need not prep for it however.
The Chancellor answers an Emergency Question from Huw Merriman at 12.30
The Home Secretary launches the policy at 13.30.
Both will be transmitted on Parliament TV.
Ms. Patel is doing the broadcasting rounds this morning for the first time in 4 months. Piers Morgan need not prep for it however.
Jun 3, 2020, 1:40 am
#808
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
Parliament today:
The Chancellor answers an Emergency Question from Huw Merriman at 12.30
The Home Secretary launches the policy at 13.30.
Both will be transmitted on Parliament TV.
Ms. Patel is doing the broadcasting rounds this morning for the first time in 4 months. Piers Morgan need not prep for it however.
The Chancellor answers an Emergency Question from Huw Merriman at 12.30
The Home Secretary launches the policy at 13.30.
Both will be transmitted on Parliament TV.
Ms. Patel is doing the broadcasting rounds this morning for the first time in 4 months. Piers Morgan need not prep for it however.
Jun 3, 2020, 1:52 am
#809
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Parliament today:
The Chancellor answers an Emergency Question from Huw Merriman at 12.30
The Home Secretary launches the policy at 13.30.
Both will be transmitted on Parliament TV.
Ms. Patel is doing the broadcasting rounds this morning for the first time in 4 months. Piers Morgan need not prep for it however.
The Chancellor answers an Emergency Question from Huw Merriman at 12.30
The Home Secretary launches the policy at 13.30.
Both will be transmitted on Parliament TV.
Ms. Patel is doing the broadcasting rounds this morning for the first time in 4 months. Piers Morgan need not prep for it however.
Jun 3, 2020, 1:55 am
#810
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
It really is not unreasonable to quarantine after travel. I suspect your house is nicer than any jail, that really is a bit much drama.