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Original poster

No covid testing for Chinese travelling to UK

84 replies

Yirk · 29/12/2022 07:24

The government aren't going to enforce mandatory covid testing for Chinese travellers coming to UK , your thoughts ...Good or bad move ?

OP posts:
Poppins2016 · 30/12/2022 17:05

TheLostNights · 30/12/2022 14:26

I really don't see it being an issue because so many of us are jabbed. I'm not panicking at all.

NHS: People aged 50 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, those aged 5 years and over in a clinical risk group and health and social care staff will be offered a booster of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine this autumn.

Like many people I know, I haven't received a booster (too young) and while I'm not panicking, I'd quite like to see some precautions (like testing on arrival to the UK and quarantining if necessary) because even "mild" covid can be a nasty illness. I've had it twice this year already and I'm still suffering from the effects!

Throwncrumbs · 30/12/2022 17:08

Yep, let’s overload the NHS even more….with people not entitled to treatment, but will get it anyway!

Poppins2016 · 30/12/2022 17:09

... or if no quarantine measures (I take on board the points made by others and would also quite like the whole quarantine/isolation thing to remain more informal, not keen to go back to 2020) then perhaps the booster program should be extended to under 50's as routine...

Throwncrumbs · 30/12/2022 17:10

SirMingeALot · 30/12/2022 12:28

Testing would achieve fuck all, so I don't much care.

Maybe you will when you need a hospital bed!

eveoha · 30/12/2022 17:16

Just phase 2 of concerted attempt to disrupt/destabilise what passes for western civilisation really - it’s only us lumpen proles who’ll suffer 👍🏿☘️

OffToThatPlace · 30/12/2022 17:17

2020 all over again in 2023.

FrostyFifi · 30/12/2022 17:20

Maybe you will when you need a hospital bed!

Oh stop. The covid hysteria has been done to absolute death, we've had years of it.

Joshitai · 30/12/2022 17:21

I think it’s the correct decision. Travellers from China are no more likely to have Covid than anyone here or coming in from any other country. Similarly, they’re not entitled to free NHS treatment and they or their travel insurance will pay 150% of NHS rate for any care they need. They’re more likely to go to a private surgery or hospital anyway as that is what their travel insurance will cover and the waits are not 48hrs to see a GP.

Joshitai · 30/12/2022 17:22

Throwncrumbs · 30/12/2022 17:10

Maybe you will when you need a hospital bed!

Show quote history

Travel insurance now includes medical repatriation due to Covid. So they’re not going to be stealing our hospital beds 🙄

SirMingeALot · 30/12/2022 17:58

Throwncrumbs · 30/12/2022 17:10

Maybe you will when you need a hospital bed!

Show quote history

Fail, for the reasons outlined by previous posters. Honestly, it's nearly 2023. Update your look.

FrostyFifi · 30/12/2022 18:11

Oh well it's been implemented. Here we go again.

SirMingeALot · 30/12/2022 18:22

I hadn't realised there was a devolved element to this. No direct flights other than England, but obviously indirect can be potentially landing anywhere.

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/30/rishi-sunak-dithering-over-covid-testing-of-passengers-from-china

Might make it a bit more interesting than the standard issue pissing in the wind.

TheLostNights · 30/12/2022 18:29

It's just scaremongering making out that we are going to have a year like 2020. Come on now.

NewspaperTaxis · 30/12/2022 18:43

Society won't panic because it didn't happen in 2020. I don't think it works like that - some families and individuals will suffer and lose a loved one, it will be sporadic though numerous, they'll be in no fit state to take to the streets or riot. I don't know how the UK economy came to be actually reliant on Chinese citizens flying in from a corrupt and totalitarian Covid-riddled country but it appears we are.

notimagain · 30/12/2022 18:57

SirMingeALot · 30/12/2022 18:22

I hadn't realised there was a devolved element to this. No direct flights other than England, but obviously indirect can be potentially landing anywhere.

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/30/rishi-sunak-dithering-over-covid-testing-of-passengers-from-china

Might make it a bit more interesting than the standard issue pissing in the wind.

If the PMs plan is only to test those arriving on the non-stop/direct flights and there's no mechanism put in place to test those arriving indirectly the UK having connected somewhere en-route (e.g. Europe) then we're looking at a classic piece of window dressing rather than serious measures.

bizzywiththefizzy · 30/12/2022 19:06

China passengers will now have to take a test before flying .

FrostyFifi · 30/12/2022 19:12

we're looking at a classic piece of window dressing rather than serious measures

That's literally all it is. Just wanting to remain consistent with allies like the US. That is the motivation, not any serious belief that it will make any difference.

purpledalmation · 30/12/2022 19:14

Half the Chinese passengers landing in Italy are positive. Yikes.

fUNNYfACE36 · 30/12/2022 19:50

I Fear the people who fear covid (professor dim whitty and his ilk) not covid itself

user2754977 · 30/12/2022 19:56

If they need a test to know and they have flew all the way from China, they ain't that ill

WestwardHo1 · 30/12/2022 21:56

OffToThatPlace · 30/12/2022 17:17

2020 all over again in 2023.

Bollocks.

UnmentionedElephantDildo · 30/12/2022 22:07

purpledalmation · 30/12/2022 19:14

Half the Chinese passengers landing in Italy are positive. Yikes.

Why "yikes" ?

Seriously, it's a few hundred people landing, in places where there are already tens of thousands with covid (probably many more as so many don't test these days). So it's unlikely to make any noticeable difference.

Though perhaps we should not be so complacent about infectious diseases during the winter virus season. Other countries are taking a more precautionary approach (for fear of overwhelming their health services) and personally I think we should be dong so as well (aiming for "low" not "no", and based on investment in ventilation, masks in all medical settings and public transport, and stronger isolation rules for the symptomatic (whatever they've got). But in the absence of that, it makes no sense whatsoever to restrict travellers

Brrrrrrrrrrrr · 31/12/2022 00:43

Something is up if they’re now going to start testing after saying they weren’t going to initially. No idea what it could be they’re looking for but it does feel like dejavu. It’s almost impossible to get any clear accurate true news from inside China so it’s hard to know what the reality is over there…

FrostyFifi · 31/12/2022 01:27

It's just to be seen to be reacting in the same manner as other Western countries. That's it.
Public pressure to "do something" now that it's hit the news cycle.

Allsnotwell · 31/12/2022 01:37

Maybe you will when you need a hospital bed!

Oh stop. The covid hysteria has been done to absolute death, we've had years of it.

Seriously? Beds are in short supply with out this influx! Local hospital has already seen a 40% increase in respiratory issues taking up beds - there’s no room for more people!