Travel to Spain in early July

[Downriver]

OK, work want me to go from the UK to Spain for some meetings and I am trying to figure out what I would need to do as regards the testing and quarantine. I keep coming across conflicting information. Is there anyone confident in laying out the current guidelines? I know things may change.And I know it may be a bad idea all round

@Downriver

OK, work want me to go from the UK to Spain for some meetings and I am trying to figure out what I would need to do as regards the testing and quarantine. I keep coming across conflicting information. Is there anyone confident in laying out the current guidelines? I know things may change.And I know it may be a bad idea all round

As of today Into Spain , you need to fill some documentation www.spth.gob.es/

Get on the plane.

Coming back
Pcr 72h before flying
Pcr day 2
Pcr day 8
Self isolate for 10 days

You can pay to be released on day 5 for another pcr , if negative you can leave the house but still need to take pcr day 8

And I believe flying back you’ve to also fill a form ,

The official info as of today
www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#amber-list

Does your work understand that you will have to self isolate on return? That’s a big ask IMO. At the very least ask them to pay for the test to release scheme. I struggle with staying in the house and would be very resistant tbh.

They are happy for me to WFH once back but I think it's is right that they would have to pay for the tests. Seems horribly complicated and I am leaning towards a no. How do you even set up a PCR abroad, or here for that matter. Thanks for help, by the way

Where are you flying to ? You’ll find places where to get them done. But also some airports offer the pcrs (tho you should get it done before the flight )

Some professions are exempt from the quarantine, I think there's a list on the government website. You would still have to have a test to go into Spain, and possibly to return, I'm not sure.

List of exemptions ( as long as your arm
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules

@Cookerhood

Some professions are exempt from the quarantine, I think there's a list on the government website. You would still have to have a test to go into Spain, and possibly to return, I'm not sure.

No test is needed at the moment to fly to Spain. There are for flying into uk but not into Spain (as of today , this might change by the time you are due to fly )

Quite a few don't need a test to come into the UK (it says under each occupation whether or not it is needed). Frankly I would be amazed if anyone traveling for business isn't on that list, it's incredibly long. I know someone who has been back & forth for family visits over the last year, with no restrictions simply because of his occupation.

agree the exemption list for quarantine is long. No idea how meticulously they check these things. Possibly you just tick a box for what exemption you fall under and that’s that.

They're not just agreeing to you working from home and paying for tests, though, they're asking you not to set foot outside your house for ten days after you return. That's quite an imposition and you should be compensated for that.

@GCAcademic

They're not just agreeing to you working from home and paying for tests, though, they're asking you not to set foot outside your house for ten days after you return. That's quite an imposition and you should be compensated for that.

Spain isn't a red list country,you can quarantine at home.

Yes, you can quarantine at home rather than a hotel, but you’re not allowed to leave your house. That’s a bit much for an employer to expect.

@GCAcademic

Yes, you can quarantine at home rather than a hotel, but you’re not allowed to leave your house. That’s a bit much for an employer to expect.

This. You still need to stay at home for 10 days.

That would be a no from me.

Asking me not to leave my house for 10 days for the sake of some meetings. No supermarket, no other essential shopping, no family or social life, no childcare, no religious services (if you are religious), no leisure.

For 10 days.

I’d be asking if this couldn’t be done via zoom.

Your employers should be the ones checking the rules and the exemption list. Personally unless you don't have to self isolate for 10 days ( you wouldn't have to if you were a politician off to see a football match for example) then I wouldn't go as it's effectively house arrest and not just a question of wfh.

[quote Cookerhood]List of exemptions ( as long as your arm
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules[/quote]
If you click through, some of those roles have to quarantine from Amber list or quarantine with very specific exemptions e.g. Quarantine apart from when performing specific work. www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules#jobs-that-qualify-for-travel-exemptions; there are also still testing requirements. It isn't a list of people who can travel about with no restrictions.

I don't think meetings are necessary in person to an Amber list country, the need for you to quarantine is too much for work to ask. Fair enough if it was Green list and a short enough time that you wouldn't be caught by it switching to Amber.

No way would I be travelling for business if I had to isolate when I came back. Blimey i wouldn't even do that for pleasure. Your employers are unreasonable for asking you to do that, and irresponsible for encouraging travel for meetings which could be conducted via zoom/similar, regardless of the pandemic.

DH has recently returned from Spain for work.
You don't need a PCR test to get back into the UK, just an antigen test.
He had it done at the airport before his flight, it cost €35.
So with all the ridiculous hype about protecting our borders you don't even need a PCR to enter the country.
He did have to buy day 2 and day 8 tests, didn't bother with day 5. These tests arrived much later than they were supposed to which was a bit of a hassle but beyond our control. The supplier was from the government approved list so they need to penalise those suppliers who don't actually provide the service.

He's had phonecalls every day to check he is at home.
He has been working from the garden but it is a pain not to be able to go anywhere.
It depends how much your work will value that and compensate you accordingly. Their project needed an in person site visit to progress to the next stage, if it had just been regular meetings he would have used Zoom.

It’s not just the hassle of quarantine when you get back you need to consider.

You need to think about what happens and what quarantine might be necessary should you become ill or your pre-flight test is positive.

It would be a no from me unless they agreed to pay for all expenses, a comprehensive fail proof travel insurance policy & compensated me for the not being able to leave the house for 10 days. Agreeing you can work from home doesn’t cut it and is taking the piss slightly.

Actually, you can leave your house during the 10-day quarantine, to do the day 2 and day 8 tests if you have booked them at a clinic rather than taking the do-it-yourself-at-home variety. Worth doing (for me at least) just to get out of the flat.

So the PCR tests for day 2 and 8, are these ones that cost around £80. I am really leaning towards saying no.

@Downriver

So the PCR tests for day 2 and 8, are these ones that cost around £80. I am really leaning towards saying no.

The costs should not be a factor for you. There is no way you should be paying for these - it's an expense your employer needs to cover.