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Abolishing tests for entry to U.K. not in our best interests.

(54 Posts)
Esspee Fri 07-Jan-22 12:05:24

Everyone is hailing the abolition of covid tests for incoming passengers to the U.K. as though it is a positive move.
I recently flew to the U.S. to see my grandchildren. Knowing that everyone on the plane had a recent negative test gave me a feeling of security on the long flight, and again on the return.
I shall shortly be off again. Everybody on board will have a recent negative result BUT, on the return flight I could be mixing with people who do have covid. They will potentially infect those on the plane and bring more infection into the U.K. Why are we not protecting our country by keeping covid out?

Oopsadaisy1 Fri 07-Jan-22 12:15:24

I’m with you on everything you say, why can’t those in charge use some common sense?
It’s a pity the motto for Politicians isn’t ‘Protect and Serve’

Esspee Fri 07-Jan-22 13:23:02

Even if they drop the requirement of tests for returning nationals they could still keep them for foreigners. After all every country I want to go to requires a negative test.

Germanshepherdsmum Fri 07-Jan-22 14:41:06

It seems to be purely in order to appease the travel industry. Madness IMO.

Alegrias1 Fri 07-Jan-22 14:46:00

Oh yes, test those foreigners. hmm

The UK has one of the highest rates in the world right now.

There is no point testing people coming in because the chances are that the people on the flight are less likely to have COVID than the person behind you in the queue at Tescos.

EllanVannin Fri 07-Jan-22 14:48:39

Wonderful ! Expect the virus to hang about forever and ever amen !

BigBertha1 Fri 07-Jan-22 14:51:00

Madness! All and sundry from everywhere.

Alegrias1 Fri 07-Jan-22 14:53:28

Blooming foreigners. hmm

Coming over here, not being as sick as us, what a liberty....

Esspee Fri 07-Jan-22 14:57:23

If the object is to encourage us to travel to help the travel industry then making non nationals test before coming here at least reduces the number of potential covid cases on the plane.
I would be much happier if everyone on the plane had been tested.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 07-Jan-22 15:21:09

Esspee

If the object is to encourage us to travel to help the travel industry then making non nationals test before coming here at least reduces the number of potential covid cases on the plane.
I would be much happier if everyone on the plane had been tested.

There was a case the other day where a lady travelling long haul tested negative beforehand boarding, began to feel unwell during the flight and tested positive (LFT) they spent the duration of the flight in the loo. (Pointless really as the air circulates all round the plane including the loos)

A test only proves you are negative/not sufficient viral load to show at the time of the test.

AreWeThereYet Fri 07-Jan-22 15:25:06

Alegrias1

Blooming foreigners. hmm

Coming over here, not being as sick as us, what a liberty....

? ? ?

Alegrias1 Fri 07-Jan-22 15:29:59

Esspee

If the object is to encourage us to travel to help the travel industry then making non nationals test before coming here at least reduces the number of potential covid cases on the plane.
I would be much happier if everyone on the plane had been tested.

Are you serious?

If I was flying on a plane just now I'd also be happier if everyone had been tested. Irrespective of whether they were non nationals or not angry

But there is no reason whatsoever to try to stop the virus coming in with those nasty foreigners because its here already and at higher levels than almost any country in the world.

Lincslass Fri 07-Jan-22 15:33:03

Alegrias1

Oh yes, test those foreigners. hmm

The UK has one of the highest rates in the world right now.

There is no point testing people coming in because the chances are that the people on the flight are less likely to have COVID than the person behind you in the queue at Tescos.

Yes we should, as they request us to be tested. Fair yes. A sop to the travel industry and Airlines.

maddyone Fri 07-Jan-22 15:34:13

Oh yes, test those foreigners.

Alegrias, this is not about testing foreigners, it is about testing everybody who gets on the plane and might be sitting next to you. Many of those passengers will most likely be returning Brits, or outgoing Brits. I don’t think this is an issue that can be made out to be racist because it’s not. It’s about safe travel, whoever you are, and whoever your fellow travellers may be.

Alegrias1 Fri 07-Jan-22 15:40:08

maddyone

^Oh yes, test those foreigners.^

Alegrias, this is not about testing foreigners, it is about testing everybody who gets on the plane and might be sitting next to you. Many of those passengers will most likely be returning Brits, or outgoing Brits. I don’t think this is an issue that can be made out to be racist because it’s not. It’s about safe travel, whoever you are, and whoever your fellow travellers may be.

These are Esspee's actual words:

Even if they drop the requirement of tests for returning nationals they could still keep them for foreigners.

You can make of that what you will.

maddyone Fri 07-Jan-22 15:57:41

Yes you’re right Alegrias I didn’t spot that comment. However, I agree with Esspee in that passengers should have a negative test in order to travel, but I don’t think it should only be non Brits. The virus doesn’t differentiate and neither should we (or any other country for that matter.) Obviously at times we’ve had guidance in the form of the red list, in which it didn’t matter who you were, you had to quarantine after arrival here. However that’s now gone, and therefore it seems to me that a negative test before boarding a plane is the correct way to go in order to protect us all. Whatever nationality we may be.

maddyone Fri 07-Jan-22 15:58:01

So we meet again in the middle Alegrias.

Kali2 Fri 07-Jan-22 15:58:14

Esspee

Even if they drop the requirement of tests for returning nationals they could still keep them for foreigners. After all every country I want to go to requires a negative test.

I find this hard to read, sorry. Everyone should be tested, end of.

And who is 'a foreigner' - just having a British passport does not mean you are resident in UK in the first place.

Alegrias1 Fri 07-Jan-22 15:59:58

I don't disagree maddyone, in fact that's what I said at 15:29. But the idea that we have to test people - especially foreigners - to stop the virus getting into the country, at this stage of the pandemic, is completely nonsensical.

maddyone Fri 07-Jan-22 16:04:20

That’s interesting Alegrias, and in terms of the virus getting into the UK I agree that the horse has bolted so it’s too late to shut the stable door. However I think passengers should provide at least a negative lateral flow test because if a person is infected they could potentially infect an entire plane load of people plus airline staff.

Kali2 Fri 07-Jan-22 16:11:15

Exactly what has happened and so many airlines do not have enough staff to fly and have had to cancel so many flights. But worse is, they then go on to infect others at work, school, and everywhere else.

Gill66 Fri 07-Jan-22 16:14:51

Algerias: Right on target, as usual! Keep posting, you help keeping me sane in a world that has sadly gone mad?

Alegrias1 Fri 07-Jan-22 16:16:32

blush thank you

Kali2 Fri 07-Jan-22 16:38:52

So, no tests for anyone, no gel, no masks, no social distancing - and hope for the best, come whatever. That's your plan, right?

So Johnson was right all along, yes?

Alegrias1 Fri 07-Jan-22 17:02:06

You're just making things up Kali2. Putting words in other people's mouths. That's not helpful. Or even very nice.