Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[island]

What happens if you suddenly find you have to pay £2k to quarantine but can't afford it??

You are advised to borrow from friends and family or take out a credit card or short term loan.

An instalment and waiver system is available but the criteria are very strict.

 

[kristiang85]

All countries have been taken off the red list today.

Last minute flights to Cape Town for Christmas are £500...

 

[nw1]

Actually it looks like the red list (or at least the hotel quarantine side of it - it’s not entirely clear) might be going away again soon, according to The Telegraph:

Hotel quarantine could be scrapped this week

Red list rules could be eased later this week after reports that Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has convinced colleagues to ease restrictions on travellers.

www.telegraph.co.uk

All countries have been taken off the red list today.

Last minute flights to Cape Town for Christmas are £500...

One piece of good news. Maybe Shapps is off my 'red list' of politicians I dislike now.

 

[brad465]

All countries have been taken off the red list today.

Last minute flights to Cape Town for Christmas are £500...

Yes this is in the Financial Times now as well. I also wonder if this will help reduce the risk of domestic restrictions being brought in beyond a certain point, as people could very easily escape abroad? Of course if that's the case the red list will just be brought back, but there'll be no logic behind either the red list and/or domestic restrictions so criticism will be voiced somewhere.

 

[Dent]

Yes this is in the Financial Times now as well. I also wonder if this will help reduce the risk of domestic restrictions being brought in beyond a certain point, as people could very easily escape abroad? Of course if that's the case the red list will just be brought back, but there'll be no logic behind either the red list and/or domestic restrictions so criticism will be voiced somewhere.

It was only a small list of specific countries anyway, so doubt it would make any difference in that way.

 

[Cdd89]

Given the shortage in PCR testing capacity, why are we wasting it testing international arrivals?

 

[adc82140]

Given the shortage in PCR testing capacity, why are we wasting it testing international arrivals?

There is no shortage of PCR capacity if you pay for it. Funny that.

 

[Cdd89]

I’ve discovered that Klarity Health happily lets you use NHS LFTs for £9.95/test, and video supervised for £18. Cheapest I’ve found so far.

 

[kristiang85]

I’ve discovered that Klarity Health happily lets you use NHS LFTs for £9.95/test, and video supervised for £18. Cheapest I’ve found so far.

That's.... both hilarious and utterly ridiculous.

 

[nw1]

Given the shortage in PCR testing capacity, why are we wasting it testing international arrivals?

Because the Pi mutation might exist in France and Germany, and we need to pre-empt the possibility of it getting here.

 

[YorkshireBear]

All destinations removed from the red list not that the variant is within the UK.

 

[Richard Scott]

Because the Pi mutation might exist in France and Germany, and we need to pre-empt the possibility of it getting here.

So what, it's been shown numerous times that any restrictions don't stop any variants.

 

[KeithMcC]

We are hopeful of getting away from all this by going to Portugal next week, so duly paid for our DIY lateral flow tests that arrived yesterday. Portugal have apparently now decided that DIY tests are not valid so need to book and pay for a supervised test. According to some Tripadvisor comments they are fining people who appear at the border with a self done test, although presumably they haven't told the airlines as otherwise they wouldn't have been allowed to board.
When is this madness going to stop?

 

[Butts]

We are hopeful of getting away from all this by going to Portugal next week, so duly paid for our DIY lateral flow tests that arrived yesterday. Portugal have apparently now decided that DIY tests are not valid so need to book and pay for a supervised test. According to some Tripadvisor comments they are fining people who appear at the border with a self done test, although presumably they haven't told the airlines as otherwise they wouldn't have been allowed to board.
When is this madness going to stop?

I'm on my way to Turkey, luckily no inward testing required, but it's colder than the UK at the moment in Istanbul

 

[adc82140]

Seems like France will be reciprocating the UK with regards to testing, and require a PCR test on arrival. That's easier said than done, unless someone enterprising sets up a testing centre at the ferry port.

 

[kristiang85]

I'm on my way to Turkey, luckily no inward testing required, but it's colder than the UK at the moment in Istanbul

Istanbul gets freezing in the winter! Lovely city though. Not sure what your plans are, but head south to Antalya if you want some warmth - it is a beautiful part of the world to boot.

 

[nw1]

So what, it's been shown numerous times that any restrictions don't stop any variants.

It was supposed to be a joke highlighting the futility of travel restrictions, sorry

 

[island]

Seems like France will be reciprocating the UK with regards to testing, and require a PCR test on arrival. That's easier said than done, unless someone enterprising sets up a testing centre at the ferry port.

Nearly every pharmacy in the country is equipped to do COVID tests and there is apparently a state-imposed price cap of €43.89 for a PCR.

 

[kristiang85]

Nearly every pharmacy in the country is equipped to do COVID tests and there is apparently a state-imposed price cap of €43.89 for a PCR.

Yes, I had to get a PCR in France to travel a couple of months back - the testing system is very efficient, and even foreigners are subject to the price cap.

I organised mine through the Kaducee app https://covid.kaducee.com/#/

 

[3rd rail land]

You are advised to borrow from friends and family or take out a credit card or short term loan.

An instalment and waiver system is available but the criteria are very strict.

I'm amazed the government expects people to potentially put themselves into hardship if the need for a quarantine hotel was unexpected. If you know you need one then of course the traveler should be responsible for ensuring they can afford one.

If someone can not afford the fee for a quarantine hotel that wasn't required at the start of a foreign trip, perhaps because the rules suddenly changed, then taking out a loan doesn't solve the problem as the person doesn't have the funds to pay back the loan.

That said the government seem to make things up as they go along at times so maybe I shouldn't be so amazed at the advice given.

 

[AlterEgo]

I'm amazed the government expects people to potentially put themselves into hardship if the need for a quarantine hotel was unexpected. If you know you need one then of course the traveler should be responsible for ensuring they can afford one.

If someone can not afford the fee for a quarantine hotel that wasn't required at the start of a foreign trip, perhaps because the rules suddenly changed, then taking out a loan doesn't solve the problem as the person doesn't have the funds to pay back the loan.

That said the government seem to make things up as they go along at times so maybe I shouldn't be so amazed at the advise given.

I do agree the quarantine hotel crap is deeply problematic. Are there any other scenarios where the state can detain you, and also make you pay for your detention?

 

[adc82140]

Yes, I had to get a PCR in France to travel a couple of months back - the testing system is very efficient, and even foreigners are subject to the price cap.

I organised mine through the Kaducee app https://covid.kaducee.com/#/

Thanks for that. The pharmacy ones are LFT only. There do seem to be enty of PCR sites though. I'd aim to get tested in St Malo, so by the time I arrive at my house 7 hours later, and then a night's sleep, the result would likely be through.

But I'm not going till Easter, so fingers crossed it won't be necessary.

 

[Butts]

Istanbul gets freezing in the winter! Lovely city though. Not sure what your plans are, but head south to Antalya if you want some warmth - it is a beautiful part of the world to boot.

I thought that was by the Syrian Border !!

Seriously was surprised it was quite nippy, just like being at home in Scotland.

 

[KeithMcC]

Thanks for that. The pharmacy ones are LFT only. There do seem to be enty of PCR sites though. I'd aim to get tested in St Malo, so by the time I arrive at my house 7 hours later, and then a night's sleep, the result would likely be through.

But I'm not going till Easter, so fingers crossed it won't be necessary.

At the current rate of progress panic, we won't be able to go anywhere at all again by Easter. I am certainly not booking any trips more than a few days ahead unless they are packages and therefore I have some security if they have to be cancelled.

 

[Butts]

Arrived in Turkey okay - middle of the night thanks to the three hour time difference.

No Turkish PLF or Vaccination checks just a stamp in the Passport and off you go !!

 

[adc82140]

Back to needing a compelling reason to go to France, plus quarantine. Macron has just killed off his ski industry, and I can't see Brittany Ferries lasting. This has nothing to do with Covid, and everything to do with fishing permits. Denmark has as many Omicron cases as we do.

 

[chris11256]

Back to needing a compelling reason to go to France, plus quarantine. Macron has just killed off his ski industry, and I can't see Brittany Ferries lasting. This has nothing to do with Covid, and everything to do with fishing permits. Denmark has as many Omicron cases as we do.

Yes but blocking travel from another EU member state is much more difficult to do. Give it a few weeks until france is equally overun with Omicron and they'll probably reconsider.

 

[Mintona]

I'm going to Canada in 2 weeks time and still expect to go and return

Are you there now? How have you found it?

Think I’m going to cancel my trips to Canada/USA in March and Netherlands/Germany in September. Can’t be doing with all the uncertainty.

Further to my previous post, the purpose of my trip to Canada and the USA was to watch NHL ice hockey. Ontario yesterday announced that indoor sports venues will only be allowed to operate at 50% capacity for the foreseeable future, so we wouldn’t be allowed in. Although we are visiting Alberta rather than Ontario, it seems like a sign of things to come. So will be cancelling the trip probably today, sadly.

 

[Jamiescott1]

Are you there now? How have you found it?




Further to my previous post, the purpose of my trip to Canada and the USA was to watch NHL ice hockey. Ontario yesterday announced that indoor sports venues will only be allowed to operate at 50% capacity for the foreseeable future, so we wouldn’t be allowed in. Although we are visiting Alberta rather than Ontario, it seems like a sign of things to come. So will be cancelling the trip probably today, sadly.

I fly today. Ive been told that 100% of all arrivals are now being tested on arrival at the airport.
Will let you know

 

[adc82140]

Yes but blocking travel from another EU member state is much more difficult to do. Give it a few weeks until france is equally overun with Omicron and they'll probably reconsider.

I can foresee a "no entry unless triple jabbed" policity coming. Unfortunately the French still seem to think that travel restrictions will keep Omicron out.