really confused about testing after holiday

[mamapotamia]

Hi all, we went to Portugal for 6 days, from 29-4, so got back on Friday, so definitely green all the way.

We got PCRs before we left and then within 48 hours of leaving, got lateral flows in the local hospital. When we filled in the passenger locator forms it said we needed to enter the ref for our test and release package. We were nearly missing our flight (ok so that bit was entirely our own fault) so DH bought 1 package and we both used that reference number which went through.

I'm reading through the govt guidelines and can't see where it says we have to do this, and whether a lateral flow/antigen will suffice.

I had my second jab yesterday and now I'm flat out and the govt website isn't make any sense!

Any ideas what will happen and whether DS (11) needs to do one too?

I thought the "test and release" was the test you take on day 5 to release you from a 10 day quarantine, so, not needed when returning from a green country.
That's confusing.

Incredibly confusing. I now see there is a day 2 testing requirement, nothing about ages. I tried to buy a day 2 testing kit and it won't let me because our return date is now outside the two days. DH bought a package at the airport and entered it on the PLF but it hasn't arrived so I'm .

I think I'm going to do nothing. I had two tests in 6 days.

The government website seems quite clear - you should have booked a day 2 PCR for everyone over 2 before getting the flight back.

Sorry typo everyone over 4 needs the PCR day 2 test on return ( to be booked before flying back into the U.K.)

www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england

Incase anyone else is wondering.

It’s quite clear on gov website, you all needed to take a PCR test on or before day 2 after arriving in uk from a green list country.

Abs you went for your Jab? How irresponsible was that?

And this is why I've cancelled our postponed october holiday. I can't be bothered with all this

Think you've missed the date to take it. Wonder if they contact you..?

@BluebellsGreenbells

Abs you went for your Jab? How irresponsible was that?

Don't have to quarantine from a green country so perfectly able to go out and about. Only need to stay home if the day 2 test is positive

Don't have to quarantine from a green country so perfectly able to go out and about. Only need to stay home if the day 2 test is positive

But they didn't take the 2 day test so should be isolating as they don't know it isn't positive!

I don't think it was irresponsible to go for my jab. I was within 48 of a negative test, so perhaps more responsible than most people there.

I see that it says on 'travelling to England; but to me that reads if you're travelling to England, not returning from a green country that required you to test negative within 48 hours of departure (which we did). I mean, I've been looking at it for a while now and despite being a university lecturer I'm failing to really get clarity.

I haven't done it, now can't do it, so will have to pay the fine if contacted.

DH did buy the package (he would have bought it for each obvs but we ran out of time. But it hasn't arrived so that's tricky too.

This is why holidays shouldn’t be allowed at the moment, people are stupid and irresponsible. Hopefully a fine will be heading your way.

In fact I agree that we shouldn't have gone, but I feel they should either let you or not let you, rather than saying you technically can go, but then making it prohibitively difficult to do so.

By advertising a green list, the government clearly signalled it was fine for us to go. We thought it was a holiday, not a guilt trip!

If I get a fine @SoSadAboutMyDad, I'll let you know so you can do a little dance

This is why holidays shouldn’t be allowed at the moment. People don't abide by the rules even Boris sflacky ones and frankly don't give a shit (I'm not saying you OP).

As somebody who has had both vaccines and know that I have a small % of it working (immunosuppressed) it pisses me off that I have to still shield to protect myself.

I've just read it, and unless it has changed since the OP looked at it, it seems very clear to me:
"Before travel to England
Before you travel to England you must:

take a COVID-19 test
book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test – to be taken after arrival in England
complete a passenger locator form
On arrival in England
You must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive.

Children aged 4 and under do not need to take this test.

You do not need to quarantine unless the test result is positive.

You must quarantine if NHS Test & Trace informs you that you travelled to England with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19."

You need to take a COVID test before to travel to England from a green list country (which the OP did), and also need to take a test on day 2 after arriving in England (which the OP didn't do). Perhaps the page has been updated and we less clear when the OP read it, but it certainly seems clear now.

@RichardMarxisinnocent, I also had to take a test within 48 of departure for the UK.

Next time we'll stay home and jab sticks up each other's noses.

[quote mamapotamia]@RichardMarxisinnocent, I also had to take a test within 48 of departure for the UK.

Next time we'll stay home and jab sticks up each other's noses.[/quote]
Presumably the test within 48 hours of departure for the UK was to fulfil the "Before you travel to England, take a COVID-19 test" requirement? You also had to fulfil the "On arrival in England, You must take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 after you arrive" requirement.

I’d just order a lateral flow test, just to be sure. People seem to forget that covid is already in the UK and mutated here, you could just as easily pick it up on a bus or train.
You know who doesn’t have to test or quarantine - government officials, they aren’t subject to requirements.

Just book your private PCR tests now, stay home until you get results and presuming it's negative you don't need to worry. They return in 24 hours anyway, so it's easy to do.

I don't know how you managed to not book anything before you left, when it's very clear you needed to do it, nor what exactly you're finding hard to understand about the rules. You were asked to do 3 things; test there, fill in locator form, test here. What on earth do you teach?

Yes you should have taken one in Portugal prior to flying and then one in England on day 2 (with the date you arrived home being day 0). It really isn't that difficult to understand.

So you test to ensure you are flight safe and you test to ensure you are community safe.

Not rocket science, and yes your were irresponsible to leave home without the two day negative test and go to a crowded place for you jab. If you infected a nurse, you’ve infected a lot of people.

@mamapotamia
We just came back from Gibraltar (also a green flag country) and we did a test when we landed there , another test like you before we boarded the plane back to UK and also did a day 2 test yesterday. It was ordered before we left as takes 3-4 days to arrive and was here when we got back. It is clearly explained on all paperwork from the airlines (they even give you a discount code for the test) and must have been mentioned about a dozen times at both airports and on the flight so surprised you knew nothing about it. It's for all kids over the age of 4. When I ordered it, the company mentioned that they send the result directly to us and the border control office who corresponds the test result with the passport number and flight number. If they don't have a test result there is a fine of up to £5000 per person.

Hi @mumofthree22, thanks for your post. I didn't get the RyanAir emails, they went to DH, I'll have words. But it definitely wasn't mentioned to us on outbound or return flights or anywhere else. I mean, I can be a bit distracted but I'm not a complete idiot.

I got a call yesterday from track and trace to say a contact had tested positive (must have been from the plane) and I have to isolate for 10 days, so there is my punishment for leaving the country (for those of you who wished it upon me .

Great - so that's ok then

Presumably ds was at school?

Why go if you don't understand the requirements?