Quarantine rules.... I want to scream. This government makes nonsensical rules and yet we can do nothing about it

[CautiousOptimist11]

Ok, please read this thread for what it is... disbelief at the draconian measures under which we are all living THAT MAKE NO SENSE. It is infuriating and upsetting that our lives are so easily manipulated with no means of questioning it. What on earth has happened??

Take away the thought that we all have to put up with difficult things, we have all been through a difficult year etc, some people have lost everything. I get ot, its awful and we must all do our part to help. This is not my point. My point is that it would appear, we have gone down a slippery slope where the government can do pretty much whatever they want.

So my family and I are in quarantine at home after coming home to the UK from a non red list country. Not a holiday.

Let's say we support the quarantine EVEN ALTHOUGH there are so many holes in the system, it starts to lose its sense. The hauliers, flight crew etc - people coming in daily with no quarantine. The fact that you stand with other people from other flights for hours at passport control. That you can technically take public transport home to start your quarantine. That you can go to a test centre for your day 2 and 8 tests, on public transport. That you have to pay £200 for day 4 and 8 tests DESPITE STILL BEING IN QUARANTINE ANYWAY! (And testing before entering UK).

I feel like I have been treated like a criminal. The police came to the door to make sure we were in a couple of days ago, and their attitude was awful. Like we were criminals on house arrest.

But here is the main part of my complaint, the thing that highlights how utterly ridiculous the system is, yet nobody can or does question it.

You have the option test test to release on day 5. Extra money and inconvenience. But if negative, you can leave straight away.

If you don't pay for this extra day 5 test then, after your day 8 test (negative here), you must still wait til MIDNIGHT ON DAY 10 before you can leave the house. Why? Why are you safer after day 5 than day 8? Why not just test everyone on day 8?

I am sitting here on day 10, wondering if the police will come shouting at my door again, also wondering what kind of country I have come back to.

It's so sad

@Itsalonghaul

Cold wet dreary Britain?

It is 24c and couldn't be more beautiful now it is spring! Don't let the truth stand in your way

The truth is that there is a northern part of Britain, known as Scotland, where the entire western part of that country and n. England is right now wet and dreary. Don't let that fact escape your southern bubble, however .

You are at home, presumably. I fail to see any hardship in staying at home for ten days and the time will soon go. Don't you like your home after being away for a while?

I’m in northern England and it’s beautiful outside, sorry!

Don't apologise, MiddleParking. Good weather is nothing about which you should feel sorry. Enjoy!

I will reserve my opinion until you clarify what you travelled for, OP.

There seems to be lack of reading comprehension on this thread, or more likely a reflex prejudice against anyone who at first glance seems to hold anti-lockdown/vaccine views, regardless of whether that's correct or not (see the amusing mandatory vacations thread from yesterday).

The OP is complaining about the utter hypocrisy of a system where if you pay extra money you can leave quarantine 5 days early, but if you did not pay the money and left your house on day 9 you would have committed a criminal offence.

I have been supportive of lockdown and see it as a necessary evil, but it's perfectly reasonable to question how it's being implemented and whether it should be changed when there are more holes in the scheme than swiss cheese.

The truth is that there is a northern part of Britain, known as Scotland, where the entire western part of that country and n. England is right now wet and dreary. Don't let that fact escape your southern bubble, however confused.

It's not sunny in the South. My bit anyway.

80sMum

"If we truly want people to be quarantined on entry to the UK, then we should do what we were doing in February and March last year, ie escorting arrivals off the planes and into specially designated buses and taking them directly to the place of quarantine."

That was'nt happening at all, which is why we are in this position now. Nobody was being tested or forced to quarantine last year, it started to happen this year. I asked my local Conservative MP why it wasn't happening, back in March 2020 and he told me that we are not a totalitarian country. He confirmed that the government had no intention to quarantine passengers coming back to the UK.
As for the OP saying that they had not taken a holiday, I cannot remember the last time I had a business trip abroad and took my family with me.

@andyoldlabour

That's why I asked 80sMum the question (still unanswered) about in which country were all passengers being bused direct to quarantine last Feb/Mar.

As you rightly say it certainly didn't happen in the UK (never has) so I assume 80sMum is living elsewhere in the world?

I didn't realise you could be tested after five days and if you are OK, can leave quarantine.

Personally, I wouldn't bother. Ten days is nothing if you are comfortable in your home.

I can see it seems odd when airport staff etc are not quarantining though not hypocritical. I presume they've all been vaccinated and are tested regularly. However the risk of spread of Covid is still minimised by travellers being quarantined. If they went out and about as soon as they arrived back in the country they could spread the virus to people with whom they come in contact. Therefore I think quarantine is wise.

We would be unrealistic to expect a perfect system.

@stackemhigh

The truth is that there is a northern part of Britain, known as Scotland, where the entire western part of that country and n. England is right now wet and dreary. Don't let that fact escape your southern bubble, however confused.

It's not sunny in the South. My bit anyway.

Well it was assumed, not by me, that it's sunny and 24 degrees everywhere in Britain. I'm in Britain. It's neither of those things here .

However the risk of spread of Covid is still minimised by travellers being quarantined

But that is another one of OP's points - the list of exemptions from quarantine is very very long:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules

For instance:

BBC broadcasting transmission service workers
Crown servants or government contractors
Diplomatic missions, international organisations and conferences
High Speed 2 rail workers
IT and telecoms workers
Space engineers
Technical specialists helping with goods or services

The list goes on and on.

All of these groups are able to leave their accommodation to perform their duties during the quarantine period, although they should stay at home when not doing so. However, previously they were totally exempt from self-isolation.

That may well be a good idea to keep things running, I have no judgement one way or the other... but it's not true that everyone who enters the UK is treated the same way.

You're struggling only 10 days back in the UK.
Lol, good luck OP.

YADNBU @CautiousOptimist11
I am with you 100%. Something else doesn’t my make sense. You can quarantine with other people who were already in the country but they obviously don’t need to quarantine. And risk passing on the virus if the assumption is that you might have the virus. Such a hypocritical and tick the box system.
We will be going back to the UK soon and will have to observe the home quarantine too. We will probably be doing the additional early release test as can’t face spending 10 days without going out exercising etc
This system is such a rip off (PCR tests in the country we are coming from are FREE).

I will address I individual comments later but thank you so much for some people who actually seem to understand. It heartens me to know there are rational, intelligent people out there.

I just want to clarify one point that has seemes to get people frothing at the mouth.

We left UK last March before lockdown. Couldn't reasonably return before now. I assume that is OK with those who would like to be judge jury and executioner of my life and reasons for doing things?

@stackemhigh

I will reserve my opinion until you clarify what you travelled for, OP.

What does that have to do with the government’s idea that the rich should be allowed to pay for the privilege of leaving quarantine 5 days earlier than the plebeians?

Does covid not cross the gilded doors of the elite?

@Chloemol

It’s the rules, end of

Oh, we've had an 'end of'. Close the thread!

Meanwhile, some people seem to be missing the point made succinctly by @Method

She is asking why people can be released on day 5, simply because they have paid extra, whereas otherwise you can't leave your house until day 10?

We left UK last March before lockdown. Couldn't reasonably return before now
I bet you are beginning to wonder if you made a mistake??

Honestly the rules constantly change and for every rule there is loads of exemptions and "get out of jail free cards".

Logic and sense disappeared probably around April last year but apart from that it is all hunky-dory!!??!!

Good luck!

www.gov.uk/coronavirus

OP, you sound frazzled to the point of irrational self-absorption.

‘rational, intelligent people’ are free to disagree with you, y’know.

Another illogical thing is that with evidence of vaccination drastically reducing transmission (I have had both doses) then if I got buzzed by track and trace then I would have to quarantine for ten days

lots of people have been forced to return this week due to Brexit and the 90 day rule. Many were in Europe before the start of the pandemic or travelled when the rules allowed last year.

I agree with you OP. No issue with Quarantine if it is genuinely on the grounds of public health but the inconsistencies cannot be justified. Nor can the fact that the testing in this country costs more than double that in other European country.

And as for the tests being posted out, well yes they are but they have to be posted back so returners have to leave the house to do that. For the extortionate cost they COULD be collected if this was really about public health.

"If you’re planning to use the Test to Release scheme, you must still take a test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8, unless you’re exempt. Even if you get a negative result from your Test to Release and are released from self-isolation, you still need to take a test on or after day 8 to check that you do not have COVID-19."

Seriously work this one out because it is a bit weird.

Pay to get released on Day 5 but take test on Day 8 to check not got Covid

For the sake of everybody in UK YOU had the responsibility to stay up to date with the latest UK covid regulations, which are here.

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-corridors

All arrivals have to quarantine. If you had come from a red=list country you'd have had to quarantine in a hotel at your expense.

The reason for this is to reduce the risk of importing new variants which might not be controlled by our current vaccines. That would undermine the huge effort the entire UK has made to protect all of us.

Deep breath. And think of those who can’t take a deep breath right now due to coronavirus.

Oh, please God spare us from the sanctimonious soundbite.

I've flown from/to the UK twice in the past year. The current rules (test to release on day 5 but still having to get tested on day 8) are stupid. Just getting everyone to quarantine for 10 days would make more sense.

However, I think it's good someone checked in person that you were quarantining. The first time no-one checked on me, the second time I just got a phone call - I could have told them anything.