Anyone been to / going to Greek islands?

[Twobigsapphires]

Due to holiday on Greek Island in 2 weeks. Really anxiety inducing, anyone in the area boat or can offer reassurance?

@iwantavuvezela its just a rapid antigen or return to UK (up to 3 days before return date) but has to be one that is verified by a company rather than an NHS one. You need a fit to fly certificate.

Was there random testing at the airport for you? Have a wonderful holiday!

Thank you for that @rufus77

Very little testing at airport!

Seemed to pull aside a few younger people (aged 20’s) - testing was very quick

Thank you @iwantavuvezela. I finish isolating on Thursday from having covid by my lft's are still positive so i'm totally losing hope now :(

@iwantavuvezela

Seemed to pull aside a few younger people (aged 20’s) - testing was very quick

I fly to skiathos next week, how full was the flight?

@rufus77

Thank you *@iwantavuvezela*. I finish isolating on Thursday from having covid by my lft's are still positive so i'm totally losing hope now :(

They could turn negative by Thursday 🤞

Unfortunately I know some who had covid end of June who tested positive on a pre flight PCR to Spain this week.

If my day 2 is positive I won't be suprised at all

Thank you @ArabellaPilkington!!

I booked the rapid antigen for DC (DH and I are double vaccinated) and then I was having a wobble and looked to book a PCR today but no time lots available. So you've s wet my mind at rest - a million thank yous!!

And good to know I need it to fly out, means I can keep all docs together!

Can't wait to be there driving beer in the sun and reading my books - I'll have a think PP on any recommendations!

We're doing Mark Warner and I checked with them where we'd have to isolate if we test positive. If the positive test is at the airport, then we'd be taken to government quarantine hotels, if we test positive whilst at the resort, we can quarantine there (obv insurance would then pay for the extra 10 days). Joining the PPs who are doing tests themselves before flying out, as I really do not want to quarantine anywhere but home!

Reading: if you're going to Crete try The Island by Victoria Hislop

Or obvs Captain Corellis Mandolin if you're going to Kefalonia!

I'm usually a voracious reader but have totally lost my reading mojo since the pandemic started.

@Summersdreaming. I think testing positive on a PCR months after infection isn't common.

@rufus77 my DD tested positive for the full 10 days and then nothing since.

I hope so Arabella 🙏.

The thing I'm most worried about now is a random passenger testing positive on landing in Greece and having to go to a quarantine hotel. I won't relax until day 2 I don't think!

I'm hoping everyone will have the sense to do an NHS test before setting off.. but a lot of selfish people would risk it anyway and hope they don't get tested

@summersdreaming as long as your testing negative on LFT you will be fine and stick with them for returning.
The 2nd day PCR test could come back positive however track and trace (as it is in Scotland) say not to do a PCR test for 90 days after infection. So doubt they would tell you to isolate as you just state its within the 90 days since covid and it had to be taken for travel rules.

We went to crete three weeks ago, they tested the lead family member on the Greek plf at the airport with a lft.
We are all off to sovota in three weeks, this time going to lft us all day before we travel and the morning we go just in case.
Have booked lft to take with us to do,
Crete was full flights out and back and that was when we still had to do 10 days isolating on return.
It was glorious holiday though.

Thank you @blametheparents and @ArabellaPilkington starting to let myself get excited now! We fly out on Tuesday so we’re isolating as much as possible until then. Thankfully my boss has told me not to go into the office before we go so as not to risk catching covid there or on the tubes on the way in so fingers crossed we’ll make it.

@Scottishskifun I hope that is the case but I haven’t heard yet of anyone not being told to isolate after positive day 2 PCR. Fingers crossed though.

We're fly this weekend and will test ourselves the day before and the morning of the flight. I too though am so so anxious about someone on the plane testing positive on arrival and us being pulled in to quarantine. I hate flying anyway but this adds a whole other level of anxiety!

[quote Bayleaf25]@Scottishskifun I hope that is the case but I haven’t heard yet of anyone not being told to isolate after positive day 2 PCR. Fingers crossed though.[/quote]
Definitely fingers crossed!
I tested positive on PCRs for quite a while but I had to take them due to long covid fevers and being able to see the Dr! I was able to not isolate but it had to go further up in track and trace to a clinical team assessment as was within 90 days but not new symptoms etc. I isolated until they decided.

@morbidhamster Everything I have read in the last few days says that only the person who tests positive and their travel companions have to isolate, not everybody on the plane or who sat near so fingers crossed you will be fine. I would hope that everyone would be sensible and do an LFT before leaving, surely noone would want to risk it?

@ArabellaPilkington Thank you! This gives me hope... I havent tested yet today, keep putting it off! My husband and kids were negative by the end of the 10 days but just how strong my line was yesterday worried me

@rufus77 Hopefully everyone will be sensible and test, yes. Certainly returning to UK it's whole sections of plane which are contacted to isolate should the day 2 PCR identify any positive cases. I've also read on trip advisor forums that anyone within two rows on plane of someone who tests positive on arrival will be contacted and taken to quarantine hotel.
There was a return flight to Manchester on Friday where it looks like most in board have been contacted to self isolate by track and trace. They're thinking possibly on board airline staff member tested positive, because while plane has been contacted.

@morbidhamster I think the 2 rows thing was last year, I have trawled so many sites and cant find anything to verify that it has happened recently (on the way out). Yes there is the risk on the way back but after the 16th you don't have to isolate if you are double vaccinated so it shouldn't be a problem hopefully. We are lucky in that we work from home so isolating isn't a problem but I appreciate not everyone has that luxury.

@Summersdreaming enjoy your landing on skiathos- it can be 'interesting!'

It's a very short runway and very close to the road so people gather to watch planes take off and land.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=qcpUmynoQVo

Thanks @rufus77
I'm not bothered about isolating on the return either. I can cope in my own home. Just not in the quarantine hotel!

[quote morbidhamster]@rufus77 Hopefully everyone will be sensible and test, yes. Certainly returning to UK it's whole sections of plane which are contacted to isolate should the day 2 PCR identify any positive cases. I've also read on trip advisor forums that anyone within two rows on plane of someone who tests positive on arrival will be contacted and taken to quarantine hotel.
There was a return flight to Manchester on Friday where it looks like most in board have been contacted to self isolate by track and trace. They're thinking possibly on board airline staff member tested positive, because while plane has been contacted.[/quote]
Definitely. We (double jabbed) are flying on Friday morning and will be testing tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

@BlackLambAndGreyFalcon and if you or one of your group tests positive? What happens? Not goady just interested as I'm not brave enough to attempt holiday abroad this year but thinking of booking next year and judging by the media we aren't ever going to be able to forget Covid........