What’s the point of day 2 and 8 tests?

[Hoppinggreen]

We are currently in an Amber country and fly home next weekend.
We have an antigen text booked for before we leave here and have booked the day 2 and 8 tests and will be quarantining for 10 days as required.
I am trying to understand why the tests AND quarantine have to be done. If we are quarantining what are the tests for? If one of us tests positive is it 14 days isolation from the day of positive test or the day we got home or what?
I’m not saying we shouldn’t have to do it,it was our choice to go to an Amber country and as I said all tests are booked, I am just trying to understand the logic
DH reckons it’s just a money making exercise for testing companies (with backhanders to the govt)

Because they need to know if you have brought back the virus with you.

Day 2 - you have covid and were infectious when travelling; in case you infected the plane, other passengers need to quarantine.
Day 8 - you have covid so your isolation period needs to be extended.

But if I am Covid free before I get on the plane and then don’t see anyone for 10 days minimum why does that matter?

If you were incubating the virus it would affect all those you came into contact with while travelling. You could be positive on day 2 if you already had caught it or by day 8 if another passenger was positive and passed it on.

So day 2 is in case the Pre flight test was a false negative and Day 8 is to end my quarantine 2 days later?

Day 8 test is done in case you've been incubating covid for a long time before the load increases to testable levels. It does not end quarantine even if negative however.

Sorry, it does not end quarantine early, but does end it after day 10, yes.

No point at all, especially if you do the 5 day release test and are allowed to go out, but still need to do day 8 and still keep getting phone calls to check on you.

It’s ridiculous.

I’m not going to do day 5, I don’t need to go anywhere and from what I hear it often doesn’t come back until a few days later anyway.
All seems ridiculous but that’s what we have to do and we knew that when we came - totally worth it though

Makes their stats look better if more people are testing

The point is that the test before departure is not 100% sure as you might be yet have to develop the virus to the level it’s detected. So on day2 you should know if you were in incubation and travelled, on day 8 you retest before discharge

@cherin

The point is that the test before departure is not 100% sure as you might be yet have to develop the virus to the level it’s detected. So on day2 you should know if you were in incubation and travelled, on day 8 you retest before discharge

Terrible grammar, sorry! I don’t know if it’s me or the phone, let’s blame the phone.

@Hoppinggreen

So day 2 is in case the Pre flight test was a false negative and Day 8 is to end my quarantine 2 days later?

Exactly

Day 2 - in case you were infectious on the plane, in which case everyone on the plane has to isolate for ten days from plane journey. Also so can sequence in case new variant.

Day 8 - In case you caught it in the plane /brought it back and it wasnt picked up on day 2 testing. Also to sequence if necessary.

I also think its a bit about discouraging travel in general.

Primarily it's about money making than safety because the reality is many of the tests aren't processed properly or lost - the companies don't care, and it's downright disgraceful that it isn't taken seriously in a pandemic. Literally spent hours trying to return 2/8 tests and the company were evasive. Gave up eventually and found forums full of complaints. They are happy to take the money and send kit but anything further is pot luck. And this is why covid still, and will, come in undetected.