Bantamzen
Established Member
I flew out to Zante a couple of weeks ago, had to fill in an online form before travelling, told I wouldn't be allowed on the plane if it hadn't been done. I was asked if i'd done it when checking in at Leeds Bradford, but didn't need to show any evidence.
Upon arrival at Zante we had the usual passport checks, then a second check immediately after which consisted of me showing my QR code document (it wasn't scanned or anything) to which a glance was given and no more than that.
Then around the corner they were plucking random people out for testing, and when I say random I mean very few, estimate 5 people off our full 189 passenger flight. The tests were carried out at a table behind a makeshift curtain.
Don't kid yourself that other countries are doing things so much better than we are, as in my experience Zante airport was paying lip service to the whole episode. No distancing for passport control, no distancing for security, no distancing for check-in, or luggage collection etc......all was just the same as it always is, apart from having to wear masks.
On the way back again we were told we had to fill in a passenger locator form on the UK Gov website, and this had to be done no more than 48 hours before return. Again, cue form filling for my family of five, told we needed to show the form and QR code at the airport on arrival....we were all ready when we reached border control at LBA, only to be told by the officer that "there no need to bother with that".......
OK so they are not testing everyone, but they are still doing more than here.
Is there loads of testing capacity? Routine testing in care homes has been put back.
Are people suggesting an airport testing system would replace restrictions - ie reopen flights to Spain?
UKHSA data dashboard
Overall summary of the respiratory viruses in circulation within the UKcoronavirus.data.gov.uk
Says right now:
UK testing capacity = 350k
Tests processed = never once over 200k
So, that's at least 800 Boeing 737's (like the one I came back from Prague on yesterday) worth of tests not being used
So on the face of it there is capacity for airports. If so it needs implementing ASAP to replace quarantine for a lot of countries.