Has anyone travelled from an amber country recently?

[ObviousNameChage]

What exactly are the rules?

I've read on the gov website and it seems to be , covid test before leaving, fill in passenger locator form, isolate for 10 AND take 2 covid tests. Is that right? Then what is the point of test and release?

If you're isolating why do you also need to have 2 tests?

Am I understanding this right?

Can anyone help?

You have to isolate for 10 days and do pcr tests on day 2 and day 8. You can choose to pay for an additional test on day 5 as part of test to release, and then you can stop isolating if the day 5 test is negative, but still have to do the day 8 test. Someone from test and trace will call you daily too and you may get a visit. DP had to do this recently.

Friend had to do this recently and pretty much as @rewardacrosstrack has described. Track n Trace called multiple times, but no visit in their case.

Also worth nothing that people I know who did day 5 release test didn't get the results straight away, there was a delay

@rewardacrosstrack

You have to isolate for 10 days and do pcr tests on day 2 and day 8. You can choose to pay for an additional test on day 5 as part of test to release, and then you can stop isolating if the day 5 test is negative, but still have to do the day 8 test. Someone from test and trace will call you daily too and you may get a visit. DP had to do this recently.

Are day 2 and day 8 tests privately paid for test?

That is not an issue , just trying to make sure I know exactly what I am doing.

@NearlyAlwaysInsane

Friend had to do this recently and pretty much as *@rewardacrosstrack* has described. Track n Trace called multiple times, but no visit in their case.

The self isolating is not an issue, that was always the plan. Just didn't expect having to do that and take two tests.

Are day 2 and day 8 tests privately paid for test?

Yes, you have to pay for your tests yourself

we have a bunch of Covid self-test kits, the 30 min ones. from kids' school.
all unused from when they forgot to do it or there was no point because they had to stay home for other illnesses/injuries.

does anyone know if these are acceptable or do they actually need to be done privately & registered and whatnot?

@ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba

we have a bunch of Covid self-test kits, the 30 min ones. from kids' school. all unused from when they forgot to do it or there was no point because they had to stay home for other illnesses/injuries.

does anyone know if these are acceptable or do they actually need to be done privately & registered and whatnot?

They're not. They're LTF test and you need PCR tests.

Afaik they are NOT acceptable, you need to book the tests for day 2 and 8 in advance of your return and they need to be “certified” by the supplier. Even if some actually send you the same kit you can get from school/pharmacy and then just ask you to send them a video of the test and its results

@ObviousNameChage

thank you. brilliant

@Grazka

Are day 2 and day 8 tests privately paid for test?

Yes, you have to pay for your tests yourself

Is this so details of the test can be given on the passenger locator form?

I'm really sorry about all the questions. Country lists might be updated today but I want to be prepared just in case.

Is this so details of the test can be given on the passenger locator form?

Yes, you need a booking number for your form but also border control will ask to see the receipt that you paid for it.

I traveled in May and had to show my receipt

Strictly speaking it's not really ten days to isolate but most likely more. Because you cannot stop self-isolation until you have received back a negative test result from the day 8 test. And this often gets delayed, especially if you do a home test that you have to post back to the lab. I think you can definitely stop self-isolating after 14 days.
You can do a test to release after five days. I did this recently and paid extra for same day results. Glad that I did because I never received back my day 8 test results, and I returned back from an amber country nearly four weeks ago.

@Grazka

Is this so details of the test can be given on the passenger locator form?

Yes, you need a booking number for your form but also border control will ask to see the receipt that you paid for it.

I traveled in May and had to show my receipt

Oh crap, I'm setting this all up for someone else. I'll have the receipt on me at pick up, but does this mean she can't go through without it?

Can't you send them a copy of receipt by email. That's what I did with my relative

You can’t use the free lateral flow tests, you have to line the pockets of their mates and buy outrageously priced pcr tests for day 2 and day 8 from a government approved list of private suppliers.
People may say, why should the taxpayer fund your holiday during a “pandemic” but most other countries manage to continue offering these tests for free or accept the lateral flow tests instead and France even offer this free of charge to tourists.

Have a look here OP. Scroll down to the info about arriving from an amber list country and follow the links. Also some airlines are offering a small discount on some of the test packages when booked through certain providers - worth looking into.

@franke

Have a look here OP. Scroll down to the info about arriving from an amber list country and follow the links. Also some airlines are offering a small discount on some of the test packages when booked through certain providers - worth looking into.

That's where I got my info from but just wanted to check I understood it right.

Mainly because it didn't make sense to me having to self isolate AND test. Plus it's a pain in the arse. But the rules are what they are.

Stupid Question: are you allowed out to go to a testing centre, or is it mandatory to get the postage tests?

You can go out to get tested. One ridiculous rule is if you test negative after a day 5 test you can leave quarantine immediately, but if you just do day 2 and 8 you still have to quarantine for full 10 days even if day 8 test is negative. And day of arrival is day 0 not day 1. Absolutely mad.

So can you just book a day 2 test and a day 5 test to release test and end quarantine and not need a day 8 one ?

I travelled from an amber country to the UK two days ago.

You need to:

1. Have a covid test within 72 hours of travel. Rapid Antigen is fine for this.
2. Order day 2+ 8 testing. This must be done from a recognized company. There is a list on the government website. You need to do this before 3. because you need the reference number on the form. This is also why you can't just use some ones you got elsewhere.
3. Register entry and where you will be on the passenger locator form within 48 hours.
4. At check in you have to show your test and passenger locator form. In theory you may have to do this later, but no-one asked me when I arrived in the UK.
5. Self-isolate. Take tests and submit on days 2+8. If you are in England, you can also test to release on day five.

You have to have the day 8 one. You can't avoid it.

Sonjadog which company did you use?

Randox