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 25, 2020, 1:40 am
#586
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
There is also a govt page to contact/email the Prime Minister. I doubt it makes any difference, but I have also emailed the PM about this issue.
May 25, 2020, 1:41 am
#587
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: London, Paris
Programs: LH HON, AF Platinum
Posts: 2,001
It's just theater, IMO. Will be lifted a few weeks after it's launched, or at a minimum there will be a list of exempted countries and the list will be politically motivated.
May 25, 2020, 2:50 am
#588
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
I sure hope so. But - we were saying that when we expected it wouldn't even be launched, or that it wouldn't be a blanket ban, yet here we are.
May 25, 2020, 2:51 am
#589
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: 63,821
Your post makes sense.
Just an aside. Britain, like many other countries, are only testing serious cases (and possibly some contacts). Same in HK. But we know that a significant numbers of contagious people are asymptomatic cases (e.g. 40%) and people with mild symptoms. Hence, there is still a lot of contagious people in London.
Just an aside. Britain, like many other countries, are only testing serious cases (and possibly some contacts). Same in HK. But we know that a significant numbers of contagious people are asymptomatic cases (e.g. 40%) and people with mild symptoms. Hence, there is still a lot of contagious people in London.
Testing is now available for anyone who wants to have one over the age of 5 years old, and just under 75% of those "lead tested" have mild symptoms or are household members of the "lead tested" (which catches some asymptomatic, that 40% looks a bit high to me). The positive figure in those cases is running at around 2.5% UK wide. In short the evidence is that there is not a lot of contagious cases in London, several days last week the were no new positive cases tracked in London at all.
Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; May 25, 2020 at 3:10 am
May 25, 2020, 4:50 am
#590
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
Just to correct a few points here, the ONS Longitudinal Survey checks 35k people at random. Well and unwell. It found 24 new infections in London at the end of April and is now unable to give a number for London since even with 25k participants (on the current radar) there are now too few cases to be able to statistically quantify upwards. Nationally the figure is 0.25% of the community in England (not UK) was infected a week ago.. You then have to add in those already in hospitals, hospices and care homes - that is based on a longitudinal randomised survey, the data is on the ONS website.
Testing is now available for anyone who wants to have one over the age of 5 years old, and just under 75% of those "lead tested" have mild symptoms or are household members of the "lead tested" (which catches some asymptomatic, that 40% looks a bit high to me). The positive figure in those cases is running at around 2.5% UK wide. In short the evidence is that there is not a lot of contagious cases in London, several days last week the were no new positive cases tracked in London at all.
Testing is now available for anyone who wants to have one over the age of 5 years old, and just under 75% of those "lead tested" have mild symptoms or are household members of the "lead tested" (which catches some asymptomatic, that 40% looks a bit high to me). The positive figure in those cases is running at around 2.5% UK wide. In short the evidence is that there is not a lot of contagious cases in London, several days last week the were no new positive cases tracked in London at all.
May 25, 2020, 5:03 am
#591
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: 63,821
I have to say that the English self isolating guidelines are so wooly that I am not sure what it actually stops. For example, and while it is clearly discouraged, there is nothing to stop you from going to the shops during the 2 week period. Given recent events I imagine the capacity to enforce self isolation will be somewhat difficult. But that's just my opinion.
Last edited by corporate-wage-slave; May 25, 2020 at 1:18 pm
May 25, 2020, 5:04 am
#592
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
I don't have a lot of details.There are several groups, some are permanently standing, some appear to have stop working. The one that is the main instigator is still meeting and contributing to presumably the legislative team. I don't think this is the place to focus interest, since it now depends more on MPs and any lobbying they do.
I have to say that the English self isolating guidelines are so wholly that I am not sure what it actually stops. For example, and while it is clearly discouraged, there is nothing to stop you from going to the shops during the 2 week period. Given reccent events I imagine the capacity to enforce self isolation will be somewhat difficult. But that's just my opinion.
I have to say that the English self isolating guidelines are so wholly that I am not sure what it actually stops. For example, and while it is clearly discouraged, there is nothing to stop you from going to the shops during the 2 week period. Given reccent events I imagine the capacity to enforce self isolation will be somewhat difficult. But that's just my opinion.
May 25, 2020, 5:19 am
#593
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
I don't have a lot of details.There are several groups, some are permanently standing, some appear to have stop working. The one that is the main instigator is still meeting and contributing to presumably the legislative team. I don't think this is the place to focus interest, since it now depends more on MPs and any lobbying they do.
I have to say that the English self isolating guidelines are so wholly that I am not sure what it actually stops. For example, and while it is clearly discouraged, there is nothing to stop you from going to the shops during the 2 week period. Given recent events I imagine the capacity to enforce self isolation will be somewhat difficult. But that's just my opinion.
I have to say that the English self isolating guidelines are so wholly that I am not sure what it actually stops. For example, and while it is clearly discouraged, there is nothing to stop you from going to the shops during the 2 week period. Given recent events I imagine the capacity to enforce self isolation will be somewhat difficult. But that's just my opinion.
A phone call won't be enough to prove anything, if they hear you are outside on the phone and you are at the shops, how can they prove otherwise? If they come to your house, and you are not there, again you can be buying food, especially if you live alone so have a very good excuse to feed yourself. Now if they wait outside your house for hours and they catch you returning home, may be harder to defend, but that is really pushing things.
Either way, I don't think anyone wants to be in that situation, so I am all for hoping that they will have exemptions from countries that will be loosening their borders in June.
May 25, 2020, 5:28 am
#594
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,345
[email protected]
May 25, 2020, 5:35 am
#595
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,553
Also email Rishi Sunak on this address as he's very strong I think and the economy is his priority:
[email protected]
[email protected]
May 25, 2020, 6:20 am
#598
Moderator: Hyatt Gold Passport & Star Alliance
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1998
Location: London, UK
Programs: UA-1K 3MM/HY- LT Globalist/BA-GGL/GfL
Posts: 12,090
It's not so much enforcement, it is the psychological fear of that 1000 GBP fine and 'possible prosecution'.
A phone call won't be enough to prove anything, if they hear you are outside on the phone and you are at the shops, how can they prove otherwise? If they come to your house, and you are not there, again you can be buying food, especially if you live alone so have a very good excuse to feed yourself. Now if they wait outside your house for hours and they catch you returning home, may be harder to defend, but that is really pushing things.
Either way, I don't think anyone wants to be in that situation, so I am all for hoping that they will have exemptions from countries that will be loosening their borders in June.
A phone call won't be enough to prove anything, if they hear you are outside on the phone and you are at the shops, how can they prove otherwise? If they come to your house, and you are not there, again you can be buying food, especially if you live alone so have a very good excuse to feed yourself. Now if they wait outside your house for hours and they catch you returning home, may be harder to defend, but that is really pushing things.
Either way, I don't think anyone wants to be in that situation, so I am all for hoping that they will have exemptions from countries that will be loosening their borders in June.
May 25, 2020, 6:26 am
#599
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Europe
Programs: Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, Accor, Hyatt, (Former IHG Ambassador)
Posts: 1,394
South Korea also sends text alerts to the phone of every single person within a few miles radius every time a virus positive person goes out of their house.
Be careful ! Virus positive person XYZ has just visited your local burger king.
Be careful ! Virus positive person XYZ has has gone to your local donut shop.
And so on.
People in Korea started leaving their phoes at home, but the authorities caught on to that and now do spot calls every day.
If you do not answer after a few calls or your battery runs out, police come within 20 minutes.
All new arrivals into Korea have to install the tracing app on their phone and check in every day for 2 weeks, even if they do not show signs of the virus.
Last edited by est-gratuite; May 25, 2020 at 6:34 am
May 25, 2020, 6:59 am
#600
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LHR/ATH
Programs: Amex Platinum, LH SEN (Gold), BA Bronze
Posts: 4,489
https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control