Antigen tests

[Home4christmas]

I'm flying home next week from the UK. Double vaccinated. The rules are that antigen tests are required 48 hours before travel and must be administered by a professional.
Does anyone know if an NHS drop in test would be acceptable or will I need to find a clinic and pay? Cheapest I've seen so far is £55 per person 😭

You need to pay for a private test. You cant use the NHS ones

You also need to rest daily in Ireland and isolate for 5 days.

*test

There’s some for £35/39 depending where you are www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/how-to-find-the-cheapest-private-coronavirus-tests-for-travel/

And you don’t need to isolate for 5 days.

Seems to advise to test for 5 days after arriving but only need to isolate if you get symptoms or a positive LFT

Post-Arrival Tests

On 9 December theIrish Government announcedthat it advises travellers arriving from Great Britain to undertake daily antigen tests for 5 consecutive days, beginning with the day of arrival, and to self-isolate immediately and seek a PCR test if they develop symptoms or have a positive antigen test.

Yes - the advice re self isolation is the same as anyone who has symptoms or a positive antigen test.

Where are you? We've used express tests at Birmingham airport several times, it's £35, and I was looking for a relative in the North East and it seems Dam Health do them for £29, for example. You can definitely find them cheaper than £50, but it's frustrating when you can get them cheaply online, but then they'd be self-administered.

I've found a Dam clinic nearby so I can get them for £29, thanks
I also have the lateral flow ones so I'm covered there.
It's just annoying that even if you're fully vaccinated you still need a (paid for) negative test. This pandemic is making a lot of money for some people 😒

You can still have and spread the virus even if you're vaccinated, that's why you need the test as well. I think there would be lots of complaints too if this sort of system wasn't in place tbh. Hope everything goes smoothly and you enjoy your visit home.