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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think going on holiday at the moment is selfish and unnecessary

649 replies

OverTheRainbow88 · 30/08/2020 07:59

I think it’s totally unnecessary and selfish for people to go abroad on holiday at the moment. I’m not talking about people that need to go abroad for other reasons, such as ,work or to see ill relatives etc. I think getting our children back to school trumps a holiday.
However, lots of family and friends are going away abroad for holidays, do others agree with me or am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Aridane · 02/09/2020 13:10

There has never been a worse time to travel and paradoxically there has never been a better one

nicebreeze · 02/09/2020 13:33

My neighbour's sister went on a break in the UK earlier this week. Now developed symptoms but can't get a test unless she drives to Wales (lives in Kent). They're self isolating but won't know if they have Covid. If they do they may have infected people they were with in pubs, at National Trust places, in supermarkets, etc. and no-one will be any the wiser.

Explain to me again how going abroad is more risky than going out and about in the UK.

Aridane · 02/09/2020 13:42

@nicebreeze - it is / for the countries we visit and take covid to (eg Zante)

nicebreeze · 02/09/2020 14:03

[quote Aridane]@nicebreeze - it is / for the countries we visit and take covid to (eg Zante)[/quote]
That's not what the AIBU? is though, is it?

nicebreeze · 02/09/2020 14:05

[quote Aridane]@nicebreeze - it is / for the countries we visit and take covid to (eg Zante)[/quote]
Incidentally, the countries I've visit have all had excellent measures in place.

ChangeThePassword · 02/09/2020 14:24

Now developed symptoms but can't get a test unless she drives to Wales (lives in Kent)

That seems crazy.

In Scotland I know people have been told to travel quite far, because the slots have been booked, but they waited till more slots were released and got one much closer to home. There also the option of getting a test posted out.

Is that not the case in England?

Aridane · 02/09/2020 15:43

That's not what the AIBU? is though, is it?

@nicebreeze

Ah - but I like to flip the AIBU when I find the premise false Wink

nicebreeze · 02/09/2020 15:44

@ChangeThePassword

Now developed symptoms but can't get a test unless she drives to Wales (lives in Kent)

That seems crazy.

In Scotland I know people have been told to travel quite far, because the slots have been booked, but they waited till more slots were released and got one much closer to home. There also the option of getting a test posted out.

Is that not the case in England?

It has been - I've had a test and was able to travel and sensible distance but the message for this woman was that the system is very busy and that was the available slot. Given you are told you must have a test with 5 days she has now missed that window
MarkRuffaloCrumble · 02/09/2020 16:38

Well spotted @Aridane Smile
It’s Madeira @userxx - it’s not somewhere that was on our “must see” list but as it was available and not on the quarantine list, we took a chance and it’s gorgeous!

Aridane · 02/09/2020 17:20

@MarkRuffaloCrumble

I only know because I arrived yesterday, had the Covid test on arrival and was very impressed by the speed, efficiency and courtesy.

Madeira has an excellent Covid record and I applaud them welcoming tourism in a responsible manner

To think going on holiday at the moment is selfish and unnecessary
shinynewapple2020 · 02/09/2020 18:04

Well I am no longer being unreasonable and selfish .

Got fed up of all the 'will it' and 'won't its' about Portugal and quarantine and cancelled our holiday .

Covid wise I imagine we would have been safer on the Algarve where it's warm and we can sit outside, than the UK holiday we have booked in its place where we will predominantly be indoors for our meals and evening entertainment.

Bwlch · 02/09/2020 18:39

Now developed symptoms but can't get a test unless she drives to Wales (lives in Kent)

That is because all the available local slots are filled. Local slots for the following morning are released after 8pm. Not dead on 8pm, after 8pm.

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 02/09/2020 18:53

Ah hope you’re having a lovely time @Aridane

I’ve been really impressed with how they’re dealing with it too. We had our tests before we came and uploaded the results, the whole operation at the airport was pretty seamless.

nicebreeze · 02/09/2020 20:41

@Bwlch

Now developed symptoms but can't get a test unless she drives to Wales (lives in Kent)

That is because all the available local slots are filled. Local slots for the following morning are released after 8pm. Not dead on 8pm, after 8pm.

Thanks - useful information. Is this common knowledge? I had no idea and presumably she didn't either, just assumed she couldn't get a test locally so will self isolate and hope it doesn't get worse
Bwlch · 02/09/2020 20:55

Probably not common knowledge. Sometime after 8pm, the next morning slots are released. When those are filled, the afternoon slots will be released, then the early evening slots. If you try to book a test in the afternoon/early evening, the only remaining slots may be in Manchester or Inverness so that is what you will be offered.

LEELULUMPKIN · 02/09/2020 20:58

Yes it's common knowledge as it says plainly on the website what time the slots are released.

nicebreeze · 03/09/2020 06:10

@LEELULUMPKIN

Yes it's common knowledge as it says plainly on the website what time the slots are released.
Where's that then? I've just done a mock request for a test to see and was told to go to Newport but not told when more slots were released:
  • This service is currently very busy. If you are unable to book a test now or the location and time is not convenient for you, please try again in a few hours when more tests should be available. If no tests are available online, do not call helplines to get a test. You will not be able to get a test through the helplines.*
LEELULUMPKIN · 03/09/2020 09:23

@nicebreeze If there are no tests available at all, it tells you to try back later as more slots are released after 8pm.

I assume that as you were offered one in Newport you weren't shown the after 8pm message. You were offered a slot although it may be a long way from where you live.

I can't copy and paste it as where I am there are loads of slots so not getting the message at the moment, but if I do I will post it.

The 8pm message always shows up when there are zero slots available, or at least it has when I have tried it.

nicebreeze · 03/09/2020 09:26

[quote LEELULUMPKIN]@nicebreeze If there are no tests available at all, it tells you to try back later as more slots are released after 8pm.

I assume that as you were offered one in Newport you weren't shown the after 8pm message. You were offered a slot although it may be a long way from where you live.

I can't copy and paste it as where I am there are loads of slots so not getting the message at the moment, but if I do I will post it.

The 8pm message always shows up when there are zero slots available, or at least it has when I have tried it.[/quote]
I see. It's a shame it doesn't bring a message up if only offering a slot more than x miles away from your base postcode. As I said, she has missed her window now.

Anyway, the point is that she was infected on a UK holiday.

Walkaround · 03/09/2020 09:27

There was a thing on the radio this morning about the rationing of tests in areas that currently have low rates of coronavirus infection, so as to prioritise areas already known to have a problem, and public health experts warning that was not helpful, because it means new outbreaks may be missed until it’s too late.

Walkaround · 03/09/2020 09:31

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53990068

LEELULUMPKIN · 03/09/2020 09:40

Found it! This is what comes up when there are none available. I tried another part of the country.

Friday 4 September

Slots are not yet available on this day. More test slots are made available at 8pm every evening.

I totally agree though that it should show a message no matter where the test is being offered.

To be expected considering the shambles so far really!

Bwlch · 03/09/2020 10:00

I agree and not showing the message has led to people panicking and contacting the press saying that they are being asked to drive from Penzance to Inverness to get a test, when all they had to do was look later in the evening or the first thing the following morning.

Walkaround · 03/09/2020 12:00

@Bwlch - it’s not just that, though, is it, when the Government admits it is rationing tests in some areas? If there is plenty of availability in some places and rationing in others, based on history and not current reality, then that sounds a bit like a genuine problem to me, not an applying at the wrong time of day sort of a problem. You’re also not going to remove that message for no reason - if rationing limited tests, it comes across more like a deliberate policy to put you off trying!

OliviaBenson · 11/09/2020 07:19

@MarkRuffaloCrumble and @Aridane

Just found this thread.

We are due to go to Madeira on Sunday. Can't get a test at home, how long did you have to wait for your results when they did the test at the airport? I'm excited to go but very nervous at the same time!! What are the mask wearing rules out there?

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