Pre-departure test and Day 2 PCR + isolation scrapped in England from Friday

[EileenGC]

bbc.com/news/live/uk-59877796

From 04:00 on Friday, people returning to England will not need to present a pre-departure test before travel.

Day 2 PCRs are also gone, as is isolating until receiving results. Instead we go back to LFT tests that don’t require any isolation unless you test positive, of course.

I know they cost money but can’t say I’m thrilled at thought going on plane with 300 people for hours where nobody has tests before hand. Not exactly going help is it. Or do they assume it’s just like going to the cinema and sitting elbow to elbow so just get out with it?

I thought this would probably happen.

@Akire

I know they cost money but can’t say I’m thrilled at thought going on plane with 300 people for hours where nobody has tests before hand. Not exactly going help is it. Or do they assume it’s just like going to the cinema and sitting elbow to elbow so just get out with it?

I agree that pre-flight tests aren’t a bad idea at all, and they actually weren’t the most expensive element of this whole travel madness.

I do think they’re somewhat ineffective when self-administered ones are accepted. Just a few days ago there was a thread on here where several people said they’d get one negative family member to take them all if the others had symptoms or had tested positive on ‘back up’ tests, just to get everybody home. That doesn’t help either, does it.

The pre departure ones were pretty pointless as you didn't have to provide proof of who took it, or if done properly, and two days is a long time in virus terms...

There was at least one positive person our flight home as we got notified by test and trace.

Brilliant news.

This is good news.

I think I probably spent like £3000 on PCr tests over the last few years due to travel.

The prices were totally extortionate in the UK. Far fairer abroad.

Crikey. This would have saved me £349 if implemented last week. MNers are insistent that all airplane travelers have been cheating their tests, so rule changes make zero difference anyway, right?

@lljkk

Crikey. This would have saved me £349 if implemented last week. MNers are insistent that all airplane travelers have been cheating their tests, so rule changes make zero difference anyway, right?

I think at this point in time it makes sense to assume you'll come into contact with covid when flying, preflight PCR or not.

Thank god, no more being ripped off! Paying for a test that noone checks id you did it properly or not and lfts are lnt even accurate.

Back to normality ASAP thanks

I'm due to travel home on Sunday so the way I understand it, I can now use the pre purchased lateral flow test i brought with me for testing prior to departure as my day 2 return test now?

@poppym12

I'm due to travel home on Sunday so the way I understand it, I can now use the pre purchased lateral flow test i brought with me for testing prior to departure as my day 2 return test now?

Does it have a code you can use on your PLF? They have a specific format. If yes, then crack on and use that instead. Nobody checks anyway…

Brilliant news. The travel industry has been battered these last two years and those of us who work within it seemingly forgotten about the sooner we get back travelling, the better!